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

Renowned filmmaker Karan Johar recently took to his Instagram Threads account to address a contentious issue plaguing the film industry: the clash of release dates. In a candid post, Karan criticized the practice of announcing release dates already reserved by others without the common courtesy of a phone call. While he did not name any specific films or individuals, his remarks may have been in reference to the makers of Sriram Raghavan's 'Merry Christmas,' whose release date coincides with Karan's production 'Yodha.'

'Yodha,' an action-packed film starring Sidharth Malhotra, Disha Patani, and Raashi Khanna, is being produced under Karan's banner, Dharma Productions. On the other hand, 'Merry Christmas' is a dark comedy thriller directed by Sriram Raghavan and co-produced by Ramesh Taurani's Tips Industries. Starring Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi, the film is a bilingual venture in Hindi and Tamil. Both films are now scheduled for a theatrical release on December 15.

Following the unveiling of 'Merry Christmas' posters and the announcement of its release date, Karan expressed his disappointment on his Threads account, emphasizing the importance of communication and unity within the film fraternity. 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."

While Karan's statement appears directed at Sriram Raghavan and Ramesh Taurani, he refrained from naming any individuals or films explicitly. It is worth noting that the release date for 'Yodha' had been announced earlier this month, with Dharma Productions sharing an official statement on social media.

Karan Johar's outspoken remarks highlight a growing concern within the film industry regarding clashes of release dates.