‘Dilwale’ and ‘Bajirao Mastani’ to hit screen today

The big day has finally arrived and within a matter of hours, two of the most highly anticipated Bollywood films are set to clash at the box office on Friday, December 18. On one hand, it is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus ‘Bajirao Mastani’ while on the other, it is Rs 300 crore club director Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale.

Ever since both the films announced their release dates on the same day, trade pundits have been keenly observing the developments and giving their opinions about the performance of the films.

According to some ‘Dilwale’ has an edge over ‘Bajirao Mastani’, as trade analyst Atul Mohan puts it, “Because it looks like an out and out racy entertainment, with innovative action scenes and fast, sexy cars.” Others preferred ‘Bajirao Mastani’ like Amod Mehra who says, “There are 100 reasons to prefer Bajirao Mastani. The music is better. The trailer is better. The director is interesting.”

There are again some who are of the view that both films are capable of doing equally good business at the box office. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh says, “The release of these two biggies is timed during the Christmas and New Year holidays and I genuinely feel that two good films can easily co-exist in today’s times.”

It is also said that the producer of ‘Bajirao Mastani’ Eros International has booked most single screens, while multiplexes will screen ‘Dilwale’. Trade analyst Atul Mohan also said that there are enough number of screens to accommodate both the films and the producers are strong and know the business well.

While there is no denying that business and audiences will get divided, it is also possible that instead of picking one over the other, audiences might consider watching both ‘Dilwale’ and Bajirao Mastani’ during their run in the theatres.

Both the films belong to different genres and are far too contrasting. While ‘Dilwale’ is a mass entertainer, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ is a historical romance, and both have the elements to be a blockbuster.

The USP of ‘Dilwale’ is the hit pair of Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol who will be seen on-screen after a gap of five years. There is fresh romance between young actors Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon. There is the winning combination of Shah Rukh and Rohit Shetty who have earlier delivered the blockbuster ‘Chennai Express’. High voltage stunts and adrenaline-rushing cars are quintessential features of a Rohit Shetty film. And to top it all, the film has been shot across picturesque and exotic locales.

Similarly, ‘Bajirao Mastani’ too stars another famous on and off screen couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, along with one of the finest actors of the industry Priyanka Chopra. The sets are larger-than-life with grand costumes and jewellery. The film has intense visual cinematic appeal as evident from the trailer. It has as many as ten songs with a mix of traditional and contemporary music.

However, Shah Rukh Khan has a huge fan-following which is even more than that of combined trio of ‘Bajirao Mastani’. Hence, it is likely that ‘Dilwale’ will be favoured by audience, also because of its commercial appeal.

Nonetheless, the Christmas and New Year season is going to be great both for the films as well as the audience.