In what promises to be an explosive Diwali at the box office, two major films are vying for dominance: Rohit Shetty’s “Singham Again” and the horror comedy “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” Both films have begun advance bookings in select theaters, and industry insiders are keenly observing which will emerge victorious in this cinematic duel between action and laughter.
The initial sparks flew when the creators of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” lodged a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), accusing the makers of “Singham Again” of using unfair practices in allocating screens. Despite these allegations, fans of both series have been eagerly awaiting the release, resulting in a buzz around advance ticket sales.
Starting Monday, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” kicked off its ticket sales and managed to collect approximately Rs 12.83 lakh by Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, “Singham Again” initiated its advance bookings on Tuesday morning and quickly amassed Rs 11.72 lakh by the same time. With an action-packed storyline led by Ajay Devgn, a cop on a mission, “Singham Again” boasts an impressive cast including Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff. The film appears to have a slight advantage, being positioned to secure a larger share of screens, enhancing its chances for a robust opening.
Trade analyst Girish Wankhede shares insights into the current dynamics affecting the films’ box office potential, highlighting that “Singham Again” has an upper hand due to its strong association with distributor PVR-Inox. “PVR-Inox is aiming to allocate around 60% of its screen time to ‘Singham Again,’” notes Wankhede. “In a theater with five shows, three would feature ‘Singham Again’ and two ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.’ Such a distribution can lead audiences to prefer the bigger release, especially during a festive period like Diwali when cinephiles are more inclined to spend.”
The ongoing tussle over screen allocation, which delayed the opening of advance bookings, has also put pressure on distributors. Anil Thadani, handling the distribution for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” is pushing for an equal split in screen allocation.
. Currently, it stands at 55-45 in favor of “Singham Again.” Nevertheless, the Diwali festivities are expected to benefit both films, with predictions indicating a Rs 40-crore opening for “Singham Again” and Rs 25-30 crore for the horror-comedy. However, Wankhede stresses that the quality of the films could alter the outcome, with “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” potentially gaining momentum if it resonates better with audiences.
In the midst of this cinematic competition, Manoj Desai, executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy, voices concerns over the impact of the clash on exhibitors. “This conflict over screen allocation has impeded our ability to commence advance bookings, which is detrimental during this lucrative Diwali period,” Desai laments. At the moment, “Singham Again” is available for booking at select PVR venues, while “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” bookings are happening at specific single-screen theaters.
Trade analyst Taran Adarsh echoes Desai’s concerns, pointing out the close proximity to the films’ release dates. “Only two days remain until these films hit the screens, and many theaters, like those in Pune, have yet to open bookings. The industry must resolve these issues swiftly during Diwali, a crucial time for cinematic revenue,” remarks Adarsh. “Prioritizing personal agendas at the expense of potential earnings is not beneficial for either party, nor for the broader film industry.”
With fireworks already flying before the official release, both “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” stand on the precipice of what could be an exciting box office battle. Their performance will not only depend on screen availability but also on the films’ capability to engage and entertain audiences. The stakes are high, and with fans lining up, the actual release will reveal who captures the hearts of Diwali movie-goers. For now, “Singham Again” appears poised for a dazzling debut, but in the unpredictable world of cinema, nothing is set in stone. As the countdown to Diwali narrows, both cinematic contenders have all to play for in this festive face-off.
