Post by annous on Jul 7, 2006 22:55:03 GMT
Or is it Shah Rukh versus Yash Chopra?
Producer Ritesh Sidhwani talks about the forthcoming battle of the biggies
Ram Kamal Mukherjee - Mumbai Mirror - 7 July
Word has it that Yashraj Films has blocked dates at all cinema halls for its forthcoming film Dhoom 2, leaving no space for Don to release at decent venues. Will this make you postpone the release of your film?
I don't believe Yashraj films will do something like that. I am, in fact, shooting one of my songs at their studios; they are quite aware that our film will be releasing during Diwali, which is the ideal time to release big films. I don't think it is possible for anyone to block a film. You may have negotiating clout with the theatres on account of yours being a bigger banner, but you can't stop another film. In fact, we both will have our share of business when the films releases. You can't say that Shah Rukh's film will be a small one. We all are friends and I know the Chopras, so I was surprised to read this report in a tabloid. But all multiplexes have multiple screens and all of them can't only show Dhoom 2. All the 21 movie screens in Andheri can't just run their film, it's not possible!
Yet, Rakesh Roshan released Krrish with 980 prints and almost every theatre in the city is currently showing this film only, other films are suffering on account of it. Being the biggest distributors, if Yashraj decides to follow the same trend, there won't be a single cinema hall left to screen Don.
Yashraj has distributors all over, but other films have distributors too. We have our own offices and we also have a very interesting line-up of releases like Don, Honeymoon Travels Private Limited and Zoya's (Akhtar) film with Hrithik and Kareena. We too have our own niche in the market and distributors are aware of what we can deliver. And we have some really big stars. Maybe we are new compared to Yashraj, because we have only made two films, but distributors and theatre owners are aware of our work. There is space for all films in the market.
How many prints will you go for, in order to compete with Dhoom 2?
See, I am not competing with any film. I am confident about my film and I think my director Farhan (Akhtar) has done a splendid job. I am planning to release 900 to 1000 prints of Don. We'll have to go wider, because we need to cater to all the multiplexes and the more the shows you can organise, the more you stand a chance to make profit. I am sure that there will be many bigger releases during that time because it's a festive time and you can't stop anyone from releasing their films.
Apparently, Dhoom 2 is original and audiences will see Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai together for the first time. But your film Don is a remake and the story is known to many. So will you be able to pull in the audiences?
I don't think that the interest level will be less for Don. I think people will want to watch ShahRukh Khan as Don. Firstly, Don was made 30 years ago, and most of the younger generation must not have seen the film. If you see the production values of the film, you will understand that it has been shot with style and we have paid special attention to locations. The film starts in Paris and ends in Malaysia. It has suspense, music, a good storyline…And last but not the least, my film has ShahRukh Khan as Don! In fact it works to our advantage that we are calling it Don. This way we will create the nostalgia. I have never come across a person who has not liked Don!
Are you going to plan your release strategy especially carefully since you'll have to fight with Yashraj Films?
Hey, this is not the Mahabharat! I don't think that Chopras need to be worried about my film and vice versa. We are still in the middle of the filming, we still have a song to shoot. I am ready for a Diwali release, so why should I postpone my film for Dhoom 2?
There was a rumour that ShahRukh Khan quoted an exorbitant price for Don?
I don't know where these rumours come from. ShahRukh Khan is an actor who doesn't just work for money. It's all a myth that he charges huge amounts of money. In fact Shah Rukh is one of the most reasonable actors I have worked with. He is in a position to command any price but doesn't ask for anything unreasonable.
