Even as Rakesh Roshan revealed his plans of reviving the Krrish franchise next and releasing the fourth installment in the Christmas 2018 weekend, social media has been abuzz with the filmmaker’s second clash with Shah Rukh Khan. The actor-producer has already announced his intention of releasing his movie with Aanand L Rai (tentatively titled ‘Bandhua’), in which he plays a dwarf, on the same date. The first box-office face-off being between the Hrithik Roshan-starrer Kaabil and Raees (which SRK is producing with Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani) as both are scheduled to release on Republic Day 2017.
Conceding that he read about the Christmas 2018 clash on social media, Roshan Sr says, “If Shah Rukh is releasing his film on that day, I will shift. It is unethical for me to come on the date he has already announced for his movie.”
However, he’s in no mood to shift Kaabil, as he states, “I had announced the date for Kaabil earlier. If they are coming on the same date, then I can’t do anything about it.”
Rakesh Roshan
Rakesh adds, “As far as Shah Rukh is concerned, he’s like a younger brother to me. I gave him a break in King Uncle (1993), and then worked with him in Karan Arjun (1995) and Koyla (1997). God has given him everything in life, for his talent and ethics. Knowing him, I don’t think he will do anything unethical. I don’t know what they will eventually decide.”
Reiterating that it would be unethical on his part to release his film on a date announced by another actor-filmmaker first, he says, “We’re here to make films, not create controversies. There is still time for Krrish 4. If Shah Rukh has announced it and is coming on that date, then I won’t release my film on the same date.”
When probed if he would shift Kaabil from Republic Day if SRK requests, Roshan maintains, “I don’t budge my release date. When Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai was releasing on January 14, 2000, Aamir Khan’s Mela was coming on January 7, Shah Rukh’s Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani on January 21 and Anil Kapoor’s Pukar on February 4. Some distributors suggested I move my film as Hrithik was a newcomer. They left the film as I didn’t change my release date.”
