SRK and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's clash continues after 8 years!

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who has ruled many a hearts with his romantic movies, will soon have a face off with ace director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The duo once created a stir in the Indian history of cinema by releasing their larger than life films 'Saawariya' and 'Om Shanti Om' together eight years back on November 9, 2007. Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol have re-united for Rohit Shetty's 'Dilwale' to give a tough fight to Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama 'Bajirao Mastani' starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.  While SRK launched Deepika Padukone in the Farah Khan directed film 'Om Shanti Om', Bhansali also gave Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor a grand platform for their debuts. Unfortunately, it was a setback for Bhansali's film as it was swept away by SRK - Deepika's onscreen chemistry.

The battle is all set to get ugly with exhibitors wanting to show both the films being caught in between the tussle brewing between the two studios. SRK has always been particular about opening his movies at maximum screens - multiplexes or single screens. Even in the case of 'Om Shanti Om' which had guest appearance by as many as 30 guest stars in the song 'Deewangi', SRK booked 878 cinema halls in 200 prints worldwide.

A few days back there were reports of a meeting between Eros owner, Kishore Lulla met and Shah Rukh Khan regarding the release, however things didn't materialise. In fact things have taken a turn for the worse in the run up to the release.

A senior exhibitor and owner of G7 Cinemas, Manoj Desai, said, "We will come to know which film will get how many screens only after 4.30 pm today. A case has been moved to the Bombay sessions court and the decision will come out by 4.30 pm. Till then all the bookings have been stopped. I am talking about single screen theatres only. The booking in multiplexes is open. In fact the booking in my Gaiety-Galaxy cinema started and most of the shows are housefull from now itself, but the booking in my single screen theatre, Maratha Mandir, is stalled." [sic]

When asked what is the case about, he said "Eros had signed a deal with single screen theatres during Bajrangi Bhaijaan that they have to showcase Bajirao Mastani in their theatres and so they want us to show Bajirao only and we shouldn't touch Dilwale at all. The exhibitors feel that this kind of monopoly act cannot be allowed, so the exhibitors have filed a case against this monopoly act and the case is being heard in the Bombay session court now. Let's see what result comes out on 4.30 pm".[sic]

This whole case has caused a lot of problem and the exhibitors like him who want to show both the films are suffering, "The Bajirao Mastani makers want that Shah Rukh Khan's Dilwale get lesser screens and they get more. This inner conflict between the two film-makers is causing problems for us. Both, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Shah Rukh Khan, could have understood and come one week after the other, but they didn't want to move their date. If you see this week there was no film and most of the shows were cancelled because of low occupancy. So if anyone of the two would have come a week before the other, I am not saying Bajirao Mastani or Dilwale, I am saying if anyone would have come before, then it would be good for us too. In the end it is us exhibitors who are facing the most trouble." [sic]

Looks like neither Eros nor Red Chillies are willing to back down!

'Dilwale' and 'Bajirao Mastani's battle begins on Friday (December 18).