Ajay Devgn’s highly anticipated film, ‘Son of Sardaar 2’, is hitting theaters on August 1st. But behind the scenes, there’s a big problem. The movie is struggling to find enough screens. What was supposed to be a wide release has turned into a tough fight for space.
Initially, the plan was to launch ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ on a massive scale. They aimed for about 3500 screens across the country. However, that number seems to be shrinking. Reports suggest the film might only open on around 2500 screens now. That’s a significant drop, and it’s giving the filmmakers a real headache.
A Battle for Box Office Space
The main reason for this screen crunch comes from other successful movies. Films like ‘Saiyaara’ and ‘Mahavtar Narasimha’ are still performing well. These movies are bringing in good money for theater owners. Because of this, cinema halls are reluctant to pull them from their schedules. They don’t want to lose out on current profits to make room for a new release. This creates a difficult situation for ‘Son of Sardaar 2’.
The Showdown: Distributors vs. Exhibitors
The conflict boils down to a classic standoff. Sources say the distributors for ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ want a big slice of the pie. They are pushing for 60 percent of all available show timings. But theater operators are not budging. They are only willing to offer a maximum of 35 percent of the shows.
Many independent single-screen theaters are offering even less. They are only agreeing to show the film twice a day. Non-national cinema chains are also taking a similar stance. Even major multiplex groups, like PVR INOX, have expressed their frustration with this demand. This disagreement is making it hard to finalize screen deals.
‘Dhadak 2’ Plays a Clever Hand
While ‘Son of Sardaar 2’ faces these challenges, another film is moving quietly. Siddhant Chaturvedi and Tripti Dimri’s ‘Dhadak 2’ is also releasing this week. This movie has adopted a different strategy to avoid the screen war. It will only open on about 1000 screens. Plus, it’s focusing mainly on city markets.
This smart move means ‘Dhadak 2’ isn’t fighting for screen time. It won’t struggle with the same issues plaguing ‘Son of Sardaar 2’. As a result, Ajay Devgn’s film will need to attract big crowds with fewer show options. It’s a tough challenge for any movie hoping for a blockbuster run.
Final Decision Coming Soon
The situation is certainly complicated. However, there’s still hope for a resolution. Film insiders mention that the final screen allotments might be decided by the morning of July 31st. Discussions between the producers and theater owners are still ongoing. There could be a last-minute deal that changes things. Everyone is waiting to see how this screen battle will end.