This October, Bollywood's leading ladies will clash at the box office with Priyanka Chopra's "Mary Kom" and Katrina Kaif's "Bang Bang" and "Phantom" releasing on the same day.
Kaif's "Bang Bang" with Hrithik Roshan and "Phantom" with Saif Ali Khan had been allotted the 2 October release date long ago. Recently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali produced "Mary Kom" too announced the same date, leaving trade pundits quite shocked.
The three films are targeting the audience during the Gandhi Jayanti holiday. But since the films are big banner productions, their box office clash would ensure definite division in audiences and possible tensions within the industry circuits, as witnessed during the infamous "Jab Tak Hain Jaan" and "Son of Sardar" clash in 2012.
However, there is a strong possibility that the films' makers might consider a date shift since it's impossible to procure the required amount of screens for their films if released on the same date, a source explained to Hindustan Times.
2014 has already been marred with major film clashes. Aamir Khan's "PK" created an awkward situation when the makers announced 25 December as the release date. Apparently, Anurag Kashyap had already booked the same date for his film "Bombay Velvet" which features Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in lead.
Even Anushka "NH 10" recently announced 12 September as its release date, which also has Ranbir's "Roy' and Shahid Kapoor's "Haider."
Big budget projects "Shuddhi" and "Bajirao Mastani" have also announced Christmas release in 2015. Additionally, there is a possibility of Shah Rukh Khan clashing with rival Salman Khan next year during Eid with "Raees" being pitted against Kabir Khan's next.
(Edited by Vanilla Sharma)
