Eid 2016 is all set for the next big Bollywood clash. Yash Raj Films announced yesterday that Sultan, the Salman Khan starrer directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, will release during Eid next year. And as we all know, Shah Rukh Khan’s film Raees is also slated to release during the same time. The expected collision is already making speculations rise in the industry, and for the audience, it’s a sure shot bonanza.
But this is not the first time that stars have collided on the same day. Let’s go back in time, and see how the silver screen commanders have fared in the past.
Son of Sardaar vs Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Jab Tak Hai Jaan was massively hyped because it was Yash Chopra’s last film, but Son of Sardaar was no less in pre-release publicity considering Ajay Devgn’s box office clout. There were attempts to divert the clash on November 13, 2012, but both makers were adamant and released their films on the same date. However, both did very well at the ticket window.
Om Shanti Om vs Saawariya
Few clashes gained as much notoriety as this one. Old collaborators Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shah Rukh Khan had a fall out, and both films continued to increase their stakes with a publicity blitzkrieg. November 9, 2007 came with huge prospects. But it was SRK who had the last laugh with OSO becoming a huge hit. SLB’s magnum opus launching Ranbir and Sonam Kapoor gave the audience endless blues.
Don vs Jaan-E-Mann
SRK and Salman clashed in the past when their Don and Jaan-E-Mann battled on October 20, 2006. Farhan Akhtar’s film was a snazzy remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s original hit with SRK and Priyanka Chopra, and Shirish Kunder’s directorial debut was a whimsical romantic drama featuring Salman, Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta. Not to forget, it was before Salman started his dream ‘Bhai’ run. Don proved to be a hit but Jaan-E-Mann nosedived in no time.
Lagaan vs Gadar
In 2001, June 15 brought old rivals back at the box office. Aamir Khan got his cricket team in one of the most ambitiously realised Indian films, whereas Sunny Deol ran from India to Pakistan to bring his lover back. Both films had a patriotic spine, but Lagaan kept it subtle while Gadar went all out, even usurping a hand pump. At the end, Gadar became one of the biggest hits of all time, and Lagaan accumulated non-stop critical plaudits.
Mohabbatein vs Mission Kashmir
When Hrithik Roshan started shooting for Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s Mission Kashmir, he was a nobody. But his debut film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai made him an overnight sensation and Mission Kashmir released with colossal potential on October 27. But it clashed with Mohabbatein, Aditya Chopra’s return after his monstrous hit, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, starring two of the biggest stars, SRK and Big B. The end result was one of a happy family, with both films making good money.
Twitter: @RanjibMazumder
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