As the excitement mounts for the Diwali movie releases, the stakes couldn’t be higher for two of Bollywood’s much-anticipated films, “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” The advance bookings have begun in select theaters, and initial numbers suggest a potential blockbuster opening for Ajay Devgn’s “Singham Again,” while the fate of Kartik Aaryan’s “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” remains uncertain amid ongoing disputes over screen allocation.
Even before the films have made their grand entry onto the big screen, a legal battle has erupted. The makers of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” have lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), accusing “Singham Again” of employing unfair practices in the allocation of screen time.
The competition is fierce as the advance booking counters are buzzing with activity. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” which opened its ticket sales on Monday, managed to rake in approximately Rs 12.83 lakh by Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, “Singham Again,” with its advance bookings starting only on Tuesday morning, had already garnered Rs 11.72 lakh by the same afternoon. Despite the close call, “Singham Again,” helmed by director Rohit Shetty and featuring a star-studded cast including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff, appears to have a marginal upper hand, being poised to capture a larger share of the screens.
Industry insights reveal that the distributor PVR-Inox has played a significant role in tipping the scales in favor of “Singham Again.” Trade analyst Girish Wankhede notes, “PVR-Inox is planning to allocate around 60 percent of screen time to ‘Singham Again.’ This means that if a screen has five shows, three would be dedicated to Singham Again, leaving only two for ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa.’ Such dynamics often lead audiences towards the bigger blockbuster.”
This uneven screen share has led to a delay in advance bookings, causing frustration among audiences eager to secure their seats for the Diwali festivities. Anil Thadani, the distributor for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” is staunchly advocating for equal screen sharing.
. As it stands, the screen division is currently set at a 55-45 ratio favoring “Singham Again.” Despite the challenges, both films are expected to perform well due to the Diwali holiday spirit, which typically fuels increased cinema attendance and spending.
From a financial perspective, “Singham Again” is projected to achieve a robust Rs 40-crore opening, while “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” might see a range between Rs 25-30 crore. However, trade analysts warn that if “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” outshines with better content and audience reception, the dynamics at the box office could witness a shift.
The ongoing clash has posed significant challenges for exhibitors who find themselves in the crossfire of this cinematic tussle. Manoj Desai, executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy, laments the current state of affairs, “We are facing a severe loss with advance bookings halted until the screen allocation issue is resolved. This is a crucial time for us with Diwali around the corner, and the deadlock has been damaging.”
Echoing this sentiment, trade analyst Taran Adarsh emphasizes the urgency of the situation. “With only two days remaining until the release, there is immense pressure. In cities like Pune, exhibitors have reported that advance bookings haven’t commenced. Theatres remain undecided on their schedule. Diwali is a golden opportunity for the film industry. Both movies must perform well, yet the entanglement of personal egos is risking substantial business losses.”
As the clock ticks down to the festive season releases, the film industry watches keenly to see how these two cinematic giants fare at the box office. While “Singham Again” gears up for a potential blockbuster opening, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” awaits its moment to dazzle the audience and possibly overshadow its competitor. Both films hold significant stakes and the outcome remains eagerly anticipated by industry insiders and movie fans alike.
