Is this how Shivaay may be able to beat Ae Dil Hai Mushkil at the box office?

Ajay Devgn's Shivaay bets big on action, but also has an emotional story at the centre of it, which probably could be the reason why the film is close to three hours long. In order to be able to pack in more shows, the distributors made a request to Devgn that the film be trimmed for a better viewing experience.

Now, apparently seven minutes have been edited out to make Shivaay a more pacey film. Devgn was quick to return to the editing table and drop scenes, which weren't crucial to the film and can be done away with.

"As we have got a tremendous response from theatres across India, the distributors reached out to us and requested us to adjust the length to better suit the timings, which could lead to more number of shows. The film has been made more pacey, and all theaters will play the abridged version from today," the actor's spokesperson told Mid-Day.

More shows mean more money, and may be that way Shivaay can have an upper hand on Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in the coming days. So far, the action-thriller hasn't performed as predicted. As per early estimates, it has rounded off the opening weekend with a three-day total of Rs. 31.30 crore at the domestic box office.

Shivaay may not have clicked for a few other reasons. The critics were unanimous in their opinion of the film being visually rich, but poor in content. Most said that Shivaay tells a story that has been heard of before.

However, this is not to say that the actor hasn't worked hard. Acting, producing and directing a film means a lot of work that regular stars try to keep themselves away from. "I work hard and keep quiet. I am not insecure and I go with the story. My films have beautiful songs and strong stories. I am honest to my films," Devgn told the Asian Age.