Talaash & Khiladi 786 may fight for theatres

Talaash and Khiladi 786 may fight for theatres

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The law of the jungle prevails in Bollywood. Might is right or so it seems. Three weeks after Ajay Devgn and Aditya Chopra battled it out for theatres for their respective films 'Son of Sardaar' and 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan', trade sources indicate that a similar fight may ensue between 'Talaash' and 'Khiladi 786' asking for a certain number of single screens and multiplexes.

Talaash is the solo release on November 30,Khiladi 786 releases solo on December 7. As of today both films have approximately 2,200 screens across India in the first week. Then, why the fight? Says a trade source, "The film corporation backing Talaash is reportedly asking the exhibitors to allow them to continue in a specified amount of screens in week two. At least three distributors from across India have confirmed that the Talaash agreement covers two weeks and that Talaash wants as much prominence in week two as it is getting in the release week. This could take away screens from Khiladi 786 whose release coincides with Talaash's second week."

Sunil Lulla, MD, Eros International, says, "We have nothing to worry about. We will eventually get our 2,500 odd screens." Official spokesperson for Talaash said, "Our distribution team is facing immense pressure from exhibitors to open more theatres, however our distribution strategy is in place and we are sticking to that. It's an Aamir Khan film after a gap of three years. A lot of centres' advance booking has opened days before it usually does."

However everyone is tight-lipped about Talaash's second week release strategy.

Recently, Ajay Devgn was forced to take legal recourse against Yash Raj Films, producers of Jab Tak Hai Jaan, for unfairly using their dominant position in the industry to manipulate exhibitors and distributors to release their film in more theatres than Son Of Sardaar. What is your take on this?

If a producer has planned his release well in advance and has come to some agreement with the theatre owners, there is nothing wrong in booking the theatres. If my judgement tells me that I need two weeks for a film and if the theatre gives it to me, there is nothing wrong. I am not commenting on any one film, I am talking in general. As a producer, it is my right to book the theatre and my stance will remain the same.

There were reports that your film Talaash has blocked the theatre for two weeks leaving limited screens for Akshay Kumar's Khiladi 786, which releases a week after your film.

I hope we have booked for two weeks. I have no idea which film is coming before or after us. I want to make sure all those who want to see my film will get to see it.

The theatre is not bound to give me two weeks. They might decide to give me one week or to not even screen my film. This is what open market is all about. Both sides have to agree on terms.

I know of cases when the producers are so confident of their film that they want an open run. An open run is that the producer will release his film in a theatre and the theatre will not take it off until the producer says so. So if the business becomes less, the producer will give a minimum guarantee. So the terms are different for different films at different times.