Producer Bhushan Kumar recently addressed the box-office clash between his film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and the highly anticipated Singham Again in an interview with Bollywood Hungama. He shared that both production teams had met to discuss the possibility of avoiding the overlap but were unable to come to a resolution due to certain unavoidable factors.
Kumar explained that both films had pre-existing commitments that made it difficult to change the release dates. "A franchise holds a lot of value, and we were both aware of that. It’s not that we didn’t try to avoid the clash, but we each had certain commitments that made it difficult. For instance, there are pre-commitments with OTT platforms, and they don’t allow rescheduling. We had that majboori, and they had a similar situation,” he shared.
Additionally, Kumar acknowledged that Singham Again had a creative compulsion to release around Diwali, especially considering its theme based on the Ramayana. This further complicated the situation, and Kumar explained, “They definitely wanted to come on Diwali. So, we both didn’t have a choice.”
While both parties explored options to prevent the clash, Kumar mentioned that the loss caused by releasing films simultaneously at the box office would have to be borne by both parties. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with the performance of both films, saying, “Now, the loss that a clash brings, we both have to bear that but I am happy that both the films are working well.”
Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again both had strong openings on November 1. Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty, pulled in Rs 43.5 crore on its opening day, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, the third installment in the popular horror-comedy franchise, earned Rs 35.5 crore. Both films faced a significant drop in collections by Monday, but their performances remain strong. As of the latest reports, Singham Again has amassed a total of Rs 139.75 crore, while Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 has earned Rs 124 crore over four days, according to Sacnilk.com.
The clash has undoubtedly impacted the box-office dynamics, but both films continue to be major draws for audiences. Kumar's comments underline the complexities of scheduling films in an industry with many moving parts, especially when dealing with established franchises and key dates like Diwali. Despite the challenges, both Singham Again and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are performing well and proving to be box-office successes.
