In a high-profile encounter slated for the box office, Bollywood heavyweights will lock horns as their respective films, ‘Maidaan’ and ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’, are set for a simultaneous release during the auspicious festival of Eid in April. In a recent interaction with journalists at the trailer launch event of ‘Maidaan’, held at a prestigious multiplex in Mumbai’s Juhu district, Ajay Devgn, the leading man of ‘Maidaan’, articulated his thoughts on this coincidental scheduling.
The cinematic face-off has garnered significant attention, with ‘Maidaan’ presenting Devgn as the protagonist, while ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ showcases the collaborative dynamism of Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff. As the two films gear up for a parallel release, the industry, critics, and fans are keenly observing the potential impact on their box office performances.
Devgn addressed the concerns surrounding the concurrent release head-on, stating, “I was waiting for this question. See, first of all, I won’t call it a clash. I would never want two films to release together for obvious reasons of both films suffering in terms of collections, but there are certain situations wherein you don’t have a choice but to release your film with another film. Such things are sometimes not under our control.”
Highlighting the camaraderie and mutual respect shared among industry insiders, Devgn emphasized that personal relationships transcend professional competition. “Both the films belong to different genres. Akshay, I, and everyone is like a family and we are best of friends. We don’t look at it like a clash; our perspective is different. For us, it’s a big weekend, a festival time which will surely benefit our film. And I hope, rather I’m confident that both films will do good business,” he relayed confidently.
Boney Kapoor, the producer of ‘Maidaan’, captivated the audience at the event with his charismatic presence and humorous anecdotes concerning the film’s production journey. Kapoor quipped about the elaborate team effort, drawing parallels between the sport of football and filmmaking, “Football is a team game. Similarly, this film is also the work of a team, be it the DOP, camera operator, support cast, editor, writers, etc. There are many writers in the film. Some have been credited while some have not. We’ve simply said ‘Thank You’ to some.”
The banter continued as Kapoor entertained onlookers with behind-the-scenes shenanigans. “Look at them,” he gestured towards the writers, Saiwyn Quadras and Ritesh Shah, amusing the crowd with comments on the toll writing took on their appearance. He then laughed heartily, disclosing his own struggles in trying to locate one of the writers, “I lost my hair while trying to find Ritesh Shah. He had become missing, Laapataa. You’ve heard of Laapataa Ladies? I will make a movie called, Laapataa Writer! There will be a reward for whoever finds Ritesh.”
The film ‘Maidaan’, boasting a cast that includes Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Bengali actor Rudranil Ghosh, is on track for its theatrical debut in April to coincide with Eid festivities. The makers of the film, however, have yet to reveal the exact release date.
In conclusion, as the two anticipated films approach their big-screen face-off, both the cast and crew of ‘Maidaan’ and ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ remain hopeful for a favorable outcome. With audiences preparing to be spoilt for choice, the film fraternity looks forward to a blockbuster celebration that promises to captivate moviegoers and elevate the cinematic experience during the holiday season.
