The date shuffle

P. K

While there was a huge brouhaha about Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet clashing with Rajkumar Hirani’s P.K. on December 25, 2014, with Anees Bazmee’s Welcome Back also joining in the fray, there has been some rethinking and a reshuffling of these releases. Fox Star Studios was the first to announce the release date of Bombay Velvet and according to reports, Anurag Kashyap, co-producer and director of the film, was rather piqued when Hirani announced the same day to release P.K.
Last week Kashyap, at the wrap-up party of the film, threw a surprise when he announced November 28 as the new date. And now, it is heard that Hirani has shifted his film to December 19 the day which Welcome Back (also at one point slated to hit the theatres on December 25) is to release! So it looks like John Abraham and Aamir Khan will now clash at the box-office on December 19. But the reshuffling of dates comes as no surprise. “I think this is bound to happen, because it’s too early in the year. People would re-think, and will come up with new dates, because most producers, studios would want an open week for their film,” says trade expert Taran Adarsh. Exhibitor-Distributor Akshaye Rathi of Rathi Group of Cinemas, echoes the opinion, as he says, “There can be delays in production, post-production, or more time could be needed for marketing. That’s very normal. So, there’s no big deal if the makers actually want to look out for a more convenient release date.”
The other much talked-about clash was that of Akshay Kumar’s Holiday and Ajay Devgn’s Action Jackson on June 6, but the clash was averted as the Ajay Devgn-starrer has now been pushed to November 7. In this case, the delay in release also seemed inevitable as Devgn still has a few days of shooting left. “While reshuffling a film’s release date doesn’t affect the film, the dynamics may change. For instance, first both Holiday and Action Jackson were to release on May 1. Later both shifted to June. This left the May 1 slot empty for a solo release, for The Amazing Spiderman 2,” adds Rathi.
Karan Johar’s Ungli slated to released on May 23 has now been pushed to November 7. There’s still a song left to be shot and Johar also wanted Sajid Nadiadwala’s Heropanti which releases on May 23 to have an open window . Now Ungli clashes with Action Jackson.
YRF has also reshuffled the release dates of all their upcoming projects this year. The Rani Mukerji-starrer Mardaani will release on August 22, 2014, instead of July. Habib Faisal’s Daawat-e-Ishq will now release on September 5, the day Kill Dil was to release which shall now see a release on November 14. Detective Byomkesh Bakshy, initially slated to release in December will now hit the theatres on February 13, 2015. But, the whole idea of announcing a release date well-in-advance, is to avoid competition. “For big ticket films, it’s also a way to send across a message to small films, not to plan a release on the same day, as irrespective of how good a small film is, its business may get affected with a big star film,” Rathi says.
However, the change in release date doesn’t really affect a film. “It would affect a film, only if the promotions have started and then it’s delayed by a couple of months,” adds Adarsh.

October 2, a packed date
October 2, being a national holiday, is considered a good day to release a film. UTV has now announced the release date of Haider, as October 2. The Vishal Bhardwaj directed film stars Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Tabu and Kay Kay Menon. But there are already two major films releasing this day — Hrithik Roshan-Katrina Kaif starrer Bang Bang and Mary Kom biopic starring Priyanka Chopra. Only time will tell if a clash is averted between all these big-ticket releases.

ankita.kanabar@expressindia.com

 

Ranveer Singh turns rapper with new TV commercial

Ranveer Singh is all set to present his vocal skills for the first time in a TV commercial. The 28-year-old star, who is appointed as the brand ambassador of Durex, donned the hat of a rapper in the commercial which was launched on April 23. “Over the past three-and-a-half years that I’ve been a part of the Hindi film industry, I’ve declined many endorsement offers. Now by endorsing world’s leading brand Durex, I will also create awareness around sexual well-being and promote safe sex through this campaign.” He is currently shooting for Kill Dil with Parineeti Chopra.

— PTI

 

Kamal Amrohi’s grandson to foray into films

After the late director Kamal Amrohi’s grandson Bilal Amrohi made his acting debut in Atul Agnihotri’s O Teri, it is now the turn of his other grandson Waseem Amrohi to enter films. While Bilal is Tajdar Amrohi’s son, Waseem is daughter Rukhsar’s son. The youngster will debut in a romantic thriller, Switchh, a story of three robbers with a penchant for illegal racing.
Co-produced by Dubai-based Nine Hopes Production and directed by Mustufa Raj who made an award winning documentary titled March, the shooting of the film took off with a 45-day schedule in April in Dubai. It is slated to release early next year.