MUMBAI: As Diwali approaches and the Box Office countdown to the much awaited Bollywood releases – Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan’ and Ajay Devgn’s ‘Son Of Sardaar’, speeds up, even the ‘under-current’ fireworks between the two superstars has heated up.
Sure, both actors will swear that they have no personal enmity or grudge against each other.
While Shah Rukh says he wishes for ‘Son Of Sardaar’ to do equally well as his JTHJ, he certainly feels the move by Ajay Devgn’s Ffilms against YRF was wrong. “I find it amusing. This has been decided since a year… They must have also known, so what is the problem then? If you have delayed, then it’s not our fault. I just find it wrong,” he says.
Meanwhile, Ajay claims there is no fight with SRK.
“There is no fight between both of us. This is Ajay Devgn as a producer, fighting for his right with some other producer and if people are playing with it then it’s wrong,” quotes the actor.
For those who are just catching on: Ajay Devgn Ffilms (ADF) had made a plea against Yashraj Films to the Competition Commission of India (CCI) alleging monopolistic practices in connection with the clash of the release of the latter’s JTHJ, with the former’s SOS on Diwali, Nov 13.
It was alleged that YRF was using its dominant position to ask exhibitors to dedicate more screens to JTHJ instead of SOS.
The CCI stating that there is no contravention of the provisions of the act by the alleged agreement between Yash Raj Films Private Limited and its various associated enterprises clearly rejected the plea. A “Shocked” ADF is now to approach he appellate tribunal against the order.
But the question is, what seems to be the sore point of every rival against Shah Rukh Khan? This is not the first superstar to find a bone of contention.
The once upon a time close friends from their ‘Karan Arjun’ days, Salman and SRK are no longer on talking terms. Refusing to divulge what really caused the rift, the two stars distinctly steer clear of each other. Even the tension between Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh is nothing new. Before SRK’s ‘Ra.One’ had released, the ‘3 idiots’ star quoted that he hadn’t even seen the promos.
Now, reports suggest, that the ever magnanimous Salman Khan has decided to step between the Shah Rukh-Ajay clash to help his friend Devgn.
Apparently for Salman, this is an issue close to heart because he became very well associated with Ajay in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ back in 1999. Also, Salman makes a cameo appearance in ‘Son of Sardaar’ in the song ‘Po Po’.
As per reports, Salman Bhai has decided that if currently ‘SOS’ does not get its fair share of screen space as compared to ‘JTHJ’, he will clash his upcoming film ‘Kick’ with SRK’s next ‘Chennai Express’!
Interestingly both Ajay and Shah Rukh are mighty superstars in their own right. While SRK raked in huge business with his ‘Ra.One’ and ‘Don 2’, Ajay Devgn is also a rooted part of the elite 100 crore club with his ‘Singham’ and ‘Bol Bachchan’.
So, coming back to the issue: What has caused this conglomerate to form against the superstar who is otherwise so loved by the country and world over. His fans are crazy about him, they call him the ‘King of Romance’.
Is it really as Ajay Devgn puts it : “a fight between two producers” or is there really a huge rift in Bollywood, swept under the carpet, threatening to break out.
