Two of this year's much-awaited films — "Rustom" and "Mohenjo Daro" — are gearing up for a massive box office clash on Aug. 12. Despite having met with a positive response, Akshay Kumar's film has apparently lost to Hrithik Roshan's in terms of screen count.
"'Rustom' makers are mainly targeting the multiplex audience, while the 'Mohenjo Daro' team is aiming for a wider release. Though the former has generated more curiosity, it will probably settle for 2,000-2,500 screens. Hrithik's film is likely to get 300-400 more screens," a source informed Mid-Day.
Trade analysts have given their two cents on the clash.
Girish Wankhede told the leading daily that both films have great potential to earn this I-Day weekend. Akshaye Rathi pointed out that even though Disney India (the production house backing "Mohenjo Daro") has great hold on the market, the impact that "Rustom" promos have made cannot be overlooked, which means, there's a chance that each film will end up with "adequate screen space."
Also, the exhibitors have an upper hand in such cases. They will allocate screens based on the buzz a particular film has managed to create. Hoarding screens has been made illegal, which means there should be a fair allotment.
"Both films will get good scope to showcase the strength of their content with only a two to five per cent edge over the other film," Girish Johar of Zee Studios, which is co-producing "Rustom" along with Kriarj Entertainment, told the leading daily.
Ashutosh Gowariker's "Mohenjo Daro" will see Hrithik romance newbie Pooja Hegde and tame wild beasts and bad guys twice his size, all unarmed.
Tinu Suresh Desai's crime-thriller, "Rustom," is loosely based on the infamous Nanavati case of 1959, in which a naval commander had shot his wife's lover. The superstar has been paired opposite Ileana D'Cruz.
