That films will be eating into each other’s business in the coming months as there’s a huge backlog of 18 months because of the Coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdowns is a given. But in the case of S.S. Rajamouli’s RRR and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, this will assume an altogether different dimension. Both the films are big, with RRR actually being huge. Both are directed by filmmakers who have enviable track records. Alia Bhatt and Ajay Devgan will be seen in both the films. And both the films will be distributed all over India (in the case of RRR, excluding the South language versions in South India) by the same company — PEN Marudhar Entertainment.
From the looks of it, it doesn’t seem likely as of today, at least, that the producers of any of these two films will have a change of heart and move his film from the week it has been scheduled to release. But all well-wishers of the trade must be fervently hoping that at least one of the two films does not come in the first week of January so that the big clash can be avoided. After all, if they release in two separate weeks, exhibitors can hope for extraordinary collections and full houses in two separate weeks.
Insiders reveal that Bhansali was aware that RRR would probably release on 7th January, 2022. But even after that, if he announced the release of his Gangubai Kathiawadi in the same week, it was because he has immense faith in his film, reveal the same sources.