In a day and age of competition by numbers and box-office earnings, the concept of two films releasing on the same day creates frenzy and the anticipation to see who takes away the cake. But this trend is not new to Bollywood, where we have been witnessing historic clashes since forever. When star powers collide, we often see one film emerge victorious when it comes down to the economics of it all. Here are some of the most talked about BO clashes of the last 15 years...
Jab Tak Hai Jaan vs Son of Sardaar
Released on: November 13, 2012
Who did better: Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Fireworks flew between Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn as their films clashed at the box-office on Diwali that year. But the war began much sooner than the day of the release as a bitter spat between Ajay Devgn and YRF over the number of screens each film was showing in. The animosity grew, a case in court was filed but at the end of the day, both films decided to call ceasefire and released in near equal number of screens. Though both films were hits, Jab Tak Hai Jaan had the clear edge, with Rs 102 crore while Son of Sardaar made Rs 88 crore.
Golmaal 3 vs Action Replayy
Released on: November 5, 2010
Who did better: Golmaal 3
The Ajay Devgn-Rohit Shetty combination struck gold on Diwali as it blew its competition, the 70s time travel comedy Action Replayy, out of the water with a landslide margin. While Golmaal 3 raked in Rs 107.56 crore, Action Replayy proved to be a dud with a total of Rs 45 crore in the till.
Golmaal Returns vs Fashion
Released on: October 29, 2008
Who did better: Golmaal Returns
In a Diwali face-off between Rohit Shetty’s comic caper Golmaal Returns and Madhur Bhandarkar’s gritty realistic drama Fashion, the Ajay Devgn starrer beat the Priyanka Chopra starrer at the box-office. With Rs 51.69 crore in earnings as opposed to Fashion’s 26.68 crore, Golmaal Returns added to Ajay Devgn’s list of box-office hits.
Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na vs Love Story 2050
Released on: July 4, 2008
Who did better: Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na
The underdog in this battle, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na marked the debut of Imran Khan but it wasn’t expected to make a killing at the box-office since it was pitted against the futuristic romance, Love Story 2050. But the Imran Khan starrer took the box-office by storm and was one of the biggest openers that year with Rs 77 crore in the kitty. Love Story 2050 couldn’t recover its skyrocketing budget and only managed to earn Rs 15 crore.
Taare Zameen Par vs Welcome
Released on: December 21, 2007
Who did better: Welcome
Though of two different genres, the two films launched into a clash as the last few releases to take to the screens in 2007. While Aamir Khan’s directorial debut had the critics applauding its touching story about a dyslexic boy, it was Aneez Bazmee’s gangster comedy Welcome, which had the audiences queuing up at the ticket windows. Though both films were among the top grosser of the year, Welcome took the cake with Rs 75.70 crore in box-office collections as opposed to TZP’s Rs 61 crore.
Om Shanti Om vs Saawariya
Released on: November 9, 2007
Who did better: Om Shaanti Om
Sparks flew yet again on Diwali as Om Shanti Om and Saawariya went head to head. When newcomers Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor took on Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s magnum opus lost out to Farah Khan’s reincarnation drama. While OSO earned Rs 79.42 crore, Saawariya managed a meagre Rs 23.08 in comparison.
Jaan-e-Mann vs Don: The Chase Begins Again
Released on: October 20, 2006
Who did better: Don: The Chase Begins Again
In one of the most iconic Diwali weekend clashes in the recent past, Salman and Shah Rukh left audiences in a tizzy when they released their films, Jaan-E-Mann and Don: The Chase Begins Again, on the same weekend. And Farhan Akhtar’s version of Don walked away with the moolah, raking in Rs 51 crore in collections. The love triangle of Akshay Kumar, Preity Zinta and Salman Khan managed to make Rs 25.5 crore in the clash.
Veer-Zaara vs Aitraaz
Released on: November 12, 2004
Who did better: Veer-Zaara
With Diwali release dates being the trend of the decade, the cross-border love saga Veer-Zaara was the highest grosser of the year with Rs 40 crore in collections. Competing against it was the jealousy filled drama Aitraaz, which only managed to make Rs 16 crore at the box-office.
Lagaan vs Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
Released on: June 15, 2001
Who did better: Gadar: Ek Prem Katha
One of the most memorable box-office clashes to date, the joint release of Lagaan and Gadar: Ek Prem Katha sparked off quite the frenzy. While Lagaan walked away with the accolades and the critical acclaim, as well as an Oscar nomination, it was Gadar that stole the show at the box-office with landmark footfall, which led to collections of Rs 75.5 crore, as opposed to Lagaan’s Rs 29 crore in earnings.
Mohabbatein vs Mission Kashmir
Released on: October 27, 2000
Who did better: Mohabbatein
One of the first few clashes witnessed on a Diwali weekend of the new millennium, the love saga Mohabbatein sparred off against the militant action drama Mission Kashmir. Aditya Chopra’s second directorial outing launched six newcomers helmed by powerhouse actors Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan and was declared a super hit in 2000, earning Rs 33.25 crore. But the competitive release Mission Kashmir, starring Hrithik Roshan, Sanjay Dutt and Preity Zinta, gave it quite a fight at the box-office and went on to earn Rs 22.25 crore.