Clash Again: Karan shifts 'Yodha' date to clash with 'Merry Christmas' after the opposite happened earlier

Today is turning out to be a day filled with surprise release date announcements in Bollywood. Just moments after Maddock Films unveiled the release date for Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon's untitled film, trade analyst Taran Adarsh dropped a bombshell regarding Sriram Raghavan's 'Merry Christmas.' The film, which has already shifted its release date twice, is now hitting the silver screens a week earlier than previously announced, on December 8, 2023.

However, the real plot twist came when Karan Johar, the prolific filmmaker and head of Dharma Productions, took to his social media handle to unveil the new release date for his much-anticipated film 'Yodha.' Originally scheduled for a December 15 release, 'Yodha' will now go head-to-head with 'Merry Christmas' on December 8, setting the stage for an epic box office clash.

Dharma Productions shared the exciting news, saying, "Ladies & gentlemen, get ready as the engine of #Yodha is all revved up & ready to make its touchdown in cinemas on 8th December 2023! #KaranJohar @apoorvamehta18 #ShashankKhaitan @SidMalhotra @DishPatani #RashiKhanna #SagarAmbre #PushkarOjha @PrimeVideoIN #MentorDiscipleFilms @TSeries."

ALSO READ: 'Merry Christmas' heads for a shift in release date for the third time; hitting theatres a week earlier

This unexpected move by Karan Johar comes after a cryptic post he shared when Sriram Raghavan rescheduled 'Merry Christmas' to December 15. Without explicitly naming anyone, Karan Johar expressed his concerns about clashes without prior communication. He wrote, "Clashing on a date without the courtesy of a phone call is hopefully not the way forward for the studios and producers... If we don't stand united in these tough and challenging theatrical days then calling us a fraternity is futile."

Now, it seems Karan Johar is taking matters into his own hands and is ready to embrace the box office challenge head-on. The clash between 'Yodha' and 'Merry Christmas' promises to be a blockbuster showdown that will undoubtedly have fans and cinephiles buzzing with excitement.

'Yodha,' directed by Sagar Ambre and Pushkar Ojha, is a high-octane thriller set against the backdrop of an airplane hijack. The film stars Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani, and Raashii Khanna in pivotal roles. Sidharth Malhotra and Karan Johar have shared a successful collaboration on multiple projects in the past, making 'Yodha' a highly anticipated venture.

Produced by Hiroo Yash Johar, Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan, 'Yodha' is a collaboration between Prime Video & Dharma Productions, in association with Mentor Disciple Films. 

ALSO READ: Karan Johar calls for unity in the film industry amid release date clash between 'Yodha' & 'Merry Christmas'