The big clash between Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Dunki’ and Prabhas’ ‘Salaar’ in Bollywood is turning into a major drama. ‘Dunki’ is set to hit theatres on December 21, with ‘Salaar’ following suit on December 22. But the real drama is happening behind the scenes.
Reports say that ‘Salaar’ is being fair by offering to share screenings with ‘Dunki,’ especially in national chains. However, recent stories hint at some unfair practices. Allegations claim that ‘Dunki’ is getting special treatment in theatres in north India.
The Issue: SRK’s Dunki Vs Prabhas Salaar
The issue stems from claims that the makers of ‘Dunki’ wanted to dominate screens in the north. Supposedly, ‘Salaar’ was promised equal importance, but now there are reports that ‘Dunki’s team, backed by Pen Marudhar, is allegedly pressuring single-screen owners to exclusively showcase their film, aiming to overshadow ‘Salaar.’
This has surprised the ‘Salaar’ team, especially as PVR-INOX and Miraj Cinemas are reportedly favouring ‘Dunki.’ Just two days before ‘Salaar’ is set to release, Hombale Productions, the film’s production house, made a big decision. They announced they would not release the film in PVR-INOX and Miraj cinemas in the southern states due to alleged unfair trade practices between Prabhas ‘Salaar’ and Shah Rukh Khan‘s ‘Dunki’ in North India. This move is expected to significantly reduce footfall for these exhibitors, as PVR-INOX makes up almost 45-50% of the screens in the South.
Even though Hombale Films hasn’t officially addressed the issue, inside sources claim that the decision has been made not to screen Prabhas ‘Salaar’ at PVR-INOX and Miraj properties in the south unless they get an equal number of screens as ‘Dunki’ in the north. The ‘Salaar’ team is determined not to compromise on fair distribution practices and is standing firm on their decision.
