All eyes are now set on the box office as Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn pull out their daggers at each other as their respective films 'Jab Tak Hai Jaan' and 'Son of Sardar' release on the same day.
While the industry is divided in its opinion about the ongoing tussle between Yash Raj Films and the producers of SOS, the trade is upbeat about the moolah that will most probably be raked in as the two films hit the marquee simultaneously.
Our source says, `It will be a full-fledged Diwali at the box office. It is the awesome combination of the late Yash Chopra and SRK and Devgn, who is on a high with his back-to-back recent hits. The trade pundits say that November 14, the day after Diwali, will be historic, as both the films are expected to break all box office records for a single day's collection.`
Nagpur-based exhibitor and distributor Akshay Rathi says, `November 14 is the day to watch out for. The combined billing of JTHJ and Son Of Sardar is expected to be at least Rs 40 crore on Day Two! While everybody is busy speculating over who will pip whom at the BO, this day will go down in history as the best day ever for the trade.`
Girish Wankhede from Cinemax adds, `No way will the audience want to sit at home. Every 30-45 minutes, there will be a screening. I expect that both the films put together will make Rs 40 crore to Rs 45 crore.
However, Devang Sampat from Cinepolis, has a word of caution. He says, `The biggest billing for a day has been for Ek Tha Tiger that raked in Rs 33 crore. Since Ek Tha... was a shorter film than JTHJ and SOS, the pace of tickets being sold was obviously faster.`
While refusing to give a ballpark figure regarding the films' business, trade analyst Amod Mehra says, `One cannot forget that JTHJ has more screens than SOS. So it is difficult to predict the actual amount.` Game on, then!
