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'Haider' needs 'pk' to get more shows in single screens

Makers of Haider and Bang Bang get into a tussle over screen allocations

Mumbai: Leading studios of the film industry, UTV and Fox Star Studios, have got into a tussle to get maximum number of shows in single screens across the country. According to industry insiders, both the studios have been in constant conversation over the past few days in an attempt to reach out to maximum audience on the big day. After all, October 2, being a national holiday, 'Bang Bang' (Hrithik Roshan, Katrina Kaif) and 'Haider' ( Shahid Kapoor,Shraddha Kapoor) are releasing on the same day and both of them would want to cash in maximum collections on day one. Being a long weekend, getting more shows will also determine the longetivity of the film.

Talking about the intensity of the situation, an insider spilled the beans. " UTV has a good strategy in place where they have got a commitment from major single screens that they will allot 2 shows out of the 4 that play out in any single screen. In fact, the studio had agreed to give 'pk' , which is a big ticket film for them, only under the condition that 'Haider' also gets the same number of shows."

However with 'Bang Bang', Hrithik Roshan and Katrina Kaif, their chemistry and the visuals of the film has generated huge buzz around the film. " The studio will not settle for anything less and want more shows as their film has bigger stars and more mass appeal," reveals the insider.

UTV, which has had a busy year over multiple film release like 'Highway', '2 States', 'Heropanti', 'Kick' had an understanding with single screens over the allocation of shows to all their films. As part of the deal, it also included their upcoming film, 'Haider' and 'pk'.

The fight between both the studio has still not ended and industry experts are prediciting that single screens will arrive on a solution only by Tuesday afternoon. Confirming the tiff, leading distributor Rajesh Thadani said, " Yes, there are concerns raised over allocation of shows. It’s a very good weekend and both the makers would want highest figures on the day of its release on October 2."

All over the country, majority of the single screens, as part of a bulk deal, had committed to allocate 2 shows to all UTV films like Highway, Kick, 2 States and their forthcoming films. When contacted a leading distributor in Gujarat, on condition of anonymity said, " We are ready to co-operate and by tomorrow, there will definitely be a conclusion. Single screens have given their commitment to the UTV but 'Bang Bang' is a big film and no single screen would want to miss out on that film as well."

Earlier in the day, in a press release sent by Fox Star Studios, CEO Vijay Singh was quoted saying, "On 2nd Oct Bang Bang will see the widest release ever for a Bollywood film across the world. Over 4500 screens across 50 countries, with record breaking numbers of screens in the USA, UK & the Middle East."

We tried to reach out to both the studio for a comment on the single screen issue but there was no response.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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