Ajay Devgn’s highly anticipated film, Son of Sardaar 2, is facing an uphill battle for cinema screens as Mohit Suri’s unexpected hit, Saiyaara, continues its dominant run at the box office.
The “Saiyaara” Wave Rocks Bollywood
The romantic drama “Saiyaara,” starring newcomers Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, has taken the film industry by surprise with its unprecedented success. Released on July 18, it has already collected a staggering Rs 266 crore domestically in just 12 days, becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film featuring new actors.
This massive success prompted Ajay Devgn to delay “Son of Sardaar 2” by a week, moving its release from July 25 to August 1. The hope was to secure enough screens for his much-awaited sequel.
Screen Scramble for “Son of Sardaar 2”
Despite the delay, “Son of Sardaar 2” is struggling to secure the desired number of screens, particularly in single-screen cinemas and non-national chains. While distributor PVRINOX aimed for 60% of shows across all Indian screens, it may have to settle for a mere 35%.
Many single-screen theaters are prioritizing shows for “Saiyaara” and Ashwin Kumar’s animated mythological film, “Mahavatar Narsimha.” “Mahavatar Narsimha,” backed by Hombale Films (known for “KGF” and “Kantara”), has already garnered Rs 29.35 crore in just five days, adding to the competition.
A Familiar Rivalry Re-Emerges
This isn’t the first time Ajay Devgn has faced a box office clash with a Yash Raj Films (YRF) production. In 2012, “Son of Sardaar” went head-to-head with YRF’s “Jab Tak Hai Jaan.”
Devgn had previously sued YRF, alleging that they unfairly monopolized screens for “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” by tying it to the distribution of their earlier blockbuster, “Ek Tha Tiger.” This historical context adds another layer to the current screen battle.
New Competitors and Discount Strategies
Adding to the challenges, Shazia Iqbal’s romantic drama “Dhadak 2,” starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, also releases on August 1. This sequel from Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions plans a focused release in 1000 urban screens, with an eye to expand based on word-of-mouth.
To attract audiences amid this intense competition, both “Son of Sardaar 2” and “Dhadak 2” are offering significant incentives. Makers are providing 50% discounts on ticket prices through special coupon codes, a clear sign of the fierce market conditions.
Opening Day Outlook
“Son of Sardaar 2” is currently projected to have a single-digit opening day collection, estimated to be between Rs 6 crore and Rs 9 crore. This would mark a substantial drop from Devgn’s previous release, “Raid 2” (Rs 19 crore opening), and even below the original “Son of Sardaar’s” opening of over Rs 10 crore in 2012.
- “Saiyaara” has emerged as an unexpected box office giant, dominating the market.
- “Son of Sardaar 2” faces significant challenges in securing adequate cinema screens.
- Other films like “Mahavatar Narsimha” and “Dhadak 2” are intensifying competition.
- Both “Son of Sardaar 2” and “Dhadak 2” are offering 50% ticket discounts.
- Early box office predictions for “Son of Sardaar 2” are notably lower than expected.
The coming days will reveal how these new releases navigate the competitive landscape and if discounted tickets can sway audiences.
