HW vs BW : Rocky Handsome to face Batman v Superman

Hollywood vs Bollywood: 'Rocky Handsome' will face off with 'Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice'

This is not the first time clash like this is happening

John Abraham-starrer Rocky Handsome is ready to duel with Zack Snyder's Henry Cavill-Ben Affleck headlined Batman Vs Superman: Dawn Of Justice.

RH is a remake of Korean thriller, The Man From Nowhere. Director Nishikant Kamat feels that the stunts in RH are unique. "They are stylised and yet, raw and real. If you want a reference point, think The Transporter."

Previously, Hollywood films would move release dates to avoid clashes with big Bollywood films. Spectre's India release date hit screens a week after Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. Ditto with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened a week after Dilwale, a Shah Rukh Khan-starrer. This time around though, Hollywood isn't afraid to lock horns on Bollywood's home turf, it seems.

Consider this: last year, for the first time ever, India saw three Hollywood films " Avengers: Age Of Ultron, Jurassic World and Furious 7 " crossed the '100 crore milestone (Furious 7 generated '172 crore in India); that too, in a year which had big releases like Dilwale, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Bahubaliand Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Also, in India, Hollywood franchises have always been big earners at the box-office. And given that Superman and Batman are everyone's favourite superheroes, regardless of country, it's an uphill task for RH, one feels.

Should Bollywood feel threatened?

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says that "it should. Hollywood offers interesting plot lines with a larger-than-life canvas. There is a sizable chunk of audience that favours Hollywood films. And when most big Hollywood films are released simultaneously and dubbed in local languages, the danger to Bollywood releases is even more pronounced."

WHEN HOLLYWOOD BEAT BOLLYWOOD

When Dibakar Bannerjee's Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! released alongside Furious 7 on April 3, 2015

Byomkesh was critically acclaimed but failed at the BO, while F7 broke Indian records (most notably, crossed the Rs1 billion mark)

When Avengers: Age Of Ultron was preponed by a week (April 24) to avoid a clash with Gabbar Is Back, which released on May 1, 2015

Avengers 2 minted money, GIB not as much!

When Mohit Suri's Hamari Adhuri Kahani released alongside Jurassic World on June 12, 2015

HAK was a disappointment despite the hype, while franchise favourite JWlaughed its way to the bank

When Muzaffar Ali's Jaanisaar relased alongside Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation on August 7, 2015

Jaani-what? MI:RN ate up the competition with consummate ease