In a cinematic showdown set for December, Prabhas -starrer ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’ faces a challenging confrontation with Shah Rukh Khan's ‘Dunki,’ slated to hit theatres on December 21. Producer Vijay Kirgandur addressed the potential conflicts over screen allocation, hinting at the possibility of ‘ugly fights.’
Scheduled for release on December 22 after numerous delays, ‘Salaar,’ directed by Prashanth Neel, has generated significant anticipation.
Vijay Kirangdur, in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, acknowledged the clash with ‘Dunki’ and emphasised a desire to avoid discord. Kirangdur revealed ongoing discussions with exhibitors and distributors, aiming for a fair screen distribution.
"When we have a solo release, the occupancy generally will be around 60-70 percent. Some screens will go to 'Aquaman,' but between Salaar and 'Dunki,' we hope to get 50–50 screens in the best scenario," Kirangdur explained. He emphasised the importance of achieving high occupancy, even with a reduced number of screens, and stressed the focus on programming to maximize results without resorting to conflicts.
Despite the challenges, Vijay Kirangdur remains optimistic about the outcome, stating, "Even if we get more screens, the occupancy will go down to 60 per cent or 70 per cent. What we are planning is that we should get more occupancy, even if we get fewer screens than what we would have got if Salaar was a solo release. Even overseas, these discussions are going on. Programming is the key now, and that’s what we are focusing on, without getting into ugly fights."
Addressing the delays in Salaar's release, Kirangdur attributed the choice of December 22 to "astrological reasons," stating, "We always plan our dates in this manner for 10–12 years, and we’ll do so even in the future." Despite the competitive release date, Kirangdur expressed commitment to the chosen date, even in the face of "Dunki" and "Aquaman" premiering a day earlier.
‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire,’ an action drama in two parts, boasts a stellar cast featuring Prabhas, Prithviraj, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu, Sriya Reddy, Bobby Simhaa, and Tinnu Anand.