SRK vs Bhansali Round 2: Famous clashes at Indian box office.

By mangoman | 7.6k |

This winter is hot at the box office with two mega budget films : Dilwale and Bajirao Mastaani clashing at the box-office on 18th December. While the Indian film industry hopes for win-win for both the films and an end of an otherwise lukewarm year on a high note, we take a look at the various clashes in recent past and how did things end up:
PS: The last time the winter went hot was in 2007 when we saw Welcome vs TZP but both film were of different genre with a different target audience.

Jab tak hai jaan vs Son of Sardaar

The most recent clash that culminated in an ugly rivalry between SRK and Ajay Devgn (well they already were never fond of each other). The fight for more and more screen witnessed several verbal allegations of bullying, which to some extent did look valid (YRF being the stronger house in film production helped JTHJ get more screen space.
Verdict: Both films did well, but ate into each other’s business.
Jab tak hai Jaan : ₹ 211 crores
Son of Sardaar : ₹ 155 crores
Diwali 2012 : SRK vs Ajay Devgn

Golmaal 3 vs Action Replayy

Diwali 2010 saw the clash between Ajay Devgn’ frat pack and Akshay’s, who was arriving with a 100% success ratio (Aankhen, Namastey London and Singh is King). But the audience out rightly chose Golmaal over Action Replayy and the latter ended up as a dud.
Verdict: Golmaal 3: superhit; Action Replayy: dud.
Golmaal 3: ₹160 crore
Action Replayy: ₹40 crore
Diwali 2010: AK & Vipul vs Ajay & Rohit Shetty

All The Best vs Blue vs Main Aurr Mrs Khanna

Come 2009 and one of the most boring box office at Diwali as far as my memory goes, saw a triple threat match between Ajay’ frat pack, AK and Salman and family. Well Salman wasn’t the Juggernaut Bhai that he is today and clearly the public went in for content ( though none had to offer much), All the best picked up and emerged a hit while the other two bombed.
Verdict: All The Best: Hit; Blue & Main Aurr Mr Khanna: flop
All the best: ₹60 crore
Main aurr Mrs Khanna: ₹25 crore
Blue: ₹72 crore (budget ~100 crores)
Diwali 2009: Triple threat bout, but nothing worth remembering

Om Shanti Om vs Saawariya

Well how can we not mention this high profile 2007 bout between King Khan and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. While the former’ film featured the usual Bollywood masala set in 70’ backed with zappy tune from Vishal Sekhar, the latter featured SLB’s signature opulent sets and lush visuals. Though after initial days itself , it was clear who was/is the King of Bollywood.
Verdict: Om Shanti Om: superhit; Saawariya: flop
Om Shanti Om: ₹149 crore
Saawariya: ₹36 crores
Diwali 2007: King Khan vs SLB

Don vs Jaan-E-Mann

This heavyweight showdown had Salman vs Sharukh (yeah Akshay was too there in one of the films). But again, it was the genius of the men behind the camera that made it easy for audience to make a choice and they vehemently chose Farhaan Akthar’s sleek story telling against Kunder’s pompous film.
Verdict: Don: Super hit; Jaan-E-Mann: flop
Don: ₹105 crores
Jaan-E-Mann: ₹35 crore
Diwali 2006: The heavy weight showdown; SRK vs Bhai

Gadar vs Lagaan

Last but not the least, we jump back 15 summers to clash of the then decade which saw both films emerging winners (in their own terms). While Gadar went out to be a massive blockbuster, Lagaan created history as we all know it. The box office dynamics were different than today, but still June 15, 2001 saw the mercury cross 50.
Verdict: Gadar: All time Blockbuster Lagaan: Hit
Gadar: ₹94 crore
Lagaan: ₹57 crores
Summer 2011: History created by both

Honorable Mentions

Mohabbatein* vs Mission Kashmir(2000) , Veer Zaara* vs Aitraaz, Garam Masala* vs Kyon Ki(2005) , Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na* vs Love Story 2050 (2008), Golmaal Returns* vs Fashion (2008)
*more successful

Final thoughts

Thus we can see that either there was one winner or both losers (if you look at opportunity costs). It has been rare that both films have emerged successful by holding onto the audience . Today, the fight for maximum number of initial screens is making it a cut throat competition since most of the recovery is done in the initial weeks.
At the end of the day, it was the content that made the difference and let us keep our fingers crossed for the two films releasing this winter.
credits: box-office numbers are worldwide; source: boxofficeindia
2015 Mega Showdown: SRK vs SLB Round 2
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