Everything unofficial about it: Shah Rukh vs Dilip Kumar

Mughal-e-Azam starring the original thespian and Veer-Zaara starring the reigning badshah will release nationwide across cinemas on November 12.

Can it get any bigger than this? Apparently, yes. Thanks to the rare coming together of Diwali (November 12) and Eid (November 16 or 17), even the Akshay Kumar-Priyanka Chopra-Kareena Kapoor drama Aitraaz, Ramgopal Varma’s Abhishek Bachchan-Antara Mali film Naach and the much delayed Salman Khan film Shaadi Karke Phas Gaya Yaar are also releasing on the same day. Trade analysts estimate that a cool Rs 125 crore is riding on November 12 alone.

But the centrestage on Blockbuster Friday belongs firmly to K Asif’s timeless tale and Yash Chopra’s Rs 22-crore Indo-Pak epic. While the latter is the clear favourite to amass most of the box-office booty, Mughal-e-Azam (which was originally released in 1960) is not going to make it easy.

Shah Rukh Khan who has always said that Kumar is his eternal inspiration feels comparing the two films ‘‘is strange and uncalled for.’’

Khan shares a deep bond with the thespian. Some years ago Kumar’s wife Saira Banu stated that if the couple had a son, he would have looked like Shah Rukh.

‘‘I have too much respect for Dilip saab and Mughal-e-Azam. I don’t think any film can be compared to that,’’ said Khan.

Chopra was also reluctant to comment on the simultaneous release. ‘‘What do I say? I have very deep personal relations with Dilipsaab since the last 40 years. And Mughal-e-Azam is re-releasing after 44 years. I don’t know how to react,’’ said the veteran director. Incidentally, Veer-Zaara has the other superweight, Amitabh Bachchan, in a cameo.

Bollywood saw a similar situation recently when Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay re-released with Kyun! Ho Gaya Na, and emerged winner. ‘‘There is definite curiosity about Mughal-e-Azam,’’ said trade pundit Amod Mehra. ‘‘Everybody wants to see if the old stalwart can match the current numero uno.”

Deepesh Salgia, project director for Mughal-e-Azam in Sterling Investment Corporation Pvt Ltd, which was also the original production company for the film, says it was Asif’s dream to make the film in colour. ‘‘But the film was six years in the making when colour technology came to India in 1957 so we could only do the sheeshmahal song and the last three reels in colour.’’

The original budget of Mughal-e-Azam was Rs 1.5 crore; its profit was double that amount. The new colour processing and restoration work has cost Salgia’s company Rs 10 crore. ‘‘When it was made, Mughal-e-Azam was the biggest film of Indian cinema and we want it to remain so,’’ adds Salgia.

Though Dilip Kumar is in London, he saw the coloured version of Mughal-e-Azam. ‘‘He kept on saying the level of involvement that went into this film remains unparalleled,’’ says Salgia. Says Subhash Ghai, producer of Aitraaz, jokes, ‘‘The real competition is between the two legendary love stories, Veer-Zaara and Mughal-e-Azam. It’s all about Dilip saab and Shah Rukh.’’