As two major Diwali releases gear up for their premieres, the Bollywood box office is witnessing sparks fly and not just from fireworks. The much-anticipated films, “Singham Again” and “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” have stirred up quite the buzz with their advance bookings now open in select cinemas. Ajay Devgn, the star of “Singham Again,” and Kartik Aaryan, who headlines “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” are at the center of this cinematic tug-of-war.
The advance bookings for these films signal a heated contest at the box office. By Tuesday afternoon, “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” which began its ticket sales on Monday, had amassed approximately Rs 12.83 lakh. In a close pursuit, “Singham Again” had earned Rs 11.72 lakh by Tuesday afternoon, starting its bookings just that morning.
The stakes are high for both films, with “Singham Again” slightly edging out due to a promising share in the number of screens. Directed by Rohit Shetty, and featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Tiger Shroff, the cop action film aims to dominate more screens across the country.
The screen allocation, however, hasn’t come easy. “Singham Again,” distributed by PVR-Inox, is slated to command around 60 percent of the screen time compared to “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.” This has been a point of contention, with Anil Thadani, the distributor for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3,” pushing for an equal share of the screens, leading to a temporary 55-45 split.
Girish Wankhede, a trade analyst, explains the nuances of this scenario: “PVR-Inox’s involvement gives ‘Singham Again’ a significant head start. The tussle for screens not only delayed advance bookings but could also sway audience preference toward larger releases available in more shows in theaters.
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The industry projects promising numbers, with “Singham Again” potentially opening at Rs 40 crore while “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” is expected to bring in around Rs 25-30 crore. However, Wankhede affirms that these estimates are contingent on the films’ reception. Should “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” prove superior in content and appeal, the dynamics could easily shift.
Exhibitors are caught in the crossfire of this competition. Manoj Desai, the executive director of Gaiety-Galaxy, expressed his frustration over the delay in opening advance bookings, which was only exacerbated by the unresolved screen allocations. He pointed out that their inability to announce bookings during the Diwali festive season is detrimental to business. “This conflict over screen distribution is harming us during one of the most lucrative times of the year,” Desai laments.
Adding to Desai’s concerns, Taran Adarsh, another trade analyst, notes that exhibitors in cities like Pune are particularly affected due to the lack of operational bookings. With the release date looming just two days ahead, most theaters remain undetermined on their scheduling. “Diwali promises are high returns for the film industry; however, persistent conflicts and personal egos are overshadowing the potential success of these films. The industry risks internal harm by compromising on collective gains for individual triumphs,” Adarsh points out.
The clash has already touched the legal realm, with the creators of “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” filing a complaint with the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against “Singham Again” for allegedly employing unfair screen allocation practices. As the cinematic duel unfolds, the ultimate determining factor will likely come down to the audiences’ verdict on the films’ quality and watchability when they hit theaters.
While “Singham Again” is being closely watched for its presumed big opening, reaching an ambitious Rs 40 crore, the lesser but still significant Rs 30 crore projection for “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” stands as a testament to its potential appeal and the unpredictability of box office outcomes. As the industry rides the tide of Diwali festivities, the fervor surrounding these films is unlikely to dwindle anytime soon, ensuring that this box office battle remains a story of interest in the weeks to come.
