As the anticipation builds for two major releases, Prabhas’ “Salaar” and Shah Rukh Khan’s “Dunki,” advance booking figures unveil a significant disparity, signaling an intriguing battle at the box office.
“Salaar” boasts an impressive pre-release surge, recording a staggering ₹30 crore in advance bookings, with the Telugu shows contributing ₹23.5 crore alone. Set to premiere in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, the film has garnered bookings for over 14 lakh tickets across 10,434 shows in India. The Telugu screenings exhibit substantial traction, signaling a robust initial response.
In contrast, “Dunki,” Shah Rukh Khan’s third film of the year, trails behind with an advance booking tally of ₹15.41 crore, confined solely to Hindi screenings. The film secured bookings for approximately 5.6 lakh tickets across 15,014 shows for its Thursday release, paling in comparison to the colossal figures amassed by “Salaar.”
Film trade analyst Manobala Vijayabalan has drawn attention to the alleged uneven distribution of screens between the two films, indicating a perceived bias in favor of “Dunki.” Expressing discontent, Vijayabalan highlighted the exclusion of “Salaar” from multiplex chains in South Indian markets, attributing this to an imbalanced screen sharing arrangement.
The backdrop of this box office showdown intensifies as “Dunki,” directed by Rajkumar Hirani, enlists a star-studded cast including Taapsee Pannu, Vicky Kaushal, Boman Irani, Vikram Kochhar, and Anil Grover. The film delves into the realm of illegal immigration, promising an intriguing narrative.
On the other hand, “Salaar,” helmed by Prashanth Neel, is set in the fictional city of Khansaar, revolving around the dynamic of friendship turned rivalry between characters portrayed by Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran. Alongside Prabhas, the film stars Shruti Haasan, adding to the fervor surrounding its release.
With contrasting genres and star-studded ensembles, the clash between “Salaar” and “Dunki” promises to redefine the box office dynamics. As the countdown to the theatrical release continues, the fervent anticipation among cinephiles heightens, poised to witness the outcome of this high-stakes cinematic face-off.
Sources By Agencies
