Rakesh Roshan and Sanjay Gupta woke up to a rude shock today morning. Things took an ugly turn this morning when the Roshans and Gupta woke up to find out that the exhibitors had given them 60-40 screens (60 for Raees and 40 for Kaabil) against the 50-50 screens promised to them!
The exhibitors may have done this as they were promised Bahubaali 2 if they gave more screens to Raees. It was a two-film deal.
Producer Rakesh Roshan says, “I wont comment upon any other film as that's not my territory. I will only talk about my film Kaabil. We are shocked, disappointed and terribly hurt! I had not expected this. I spoke to all my concerned exhibitors last week, showed them one hour of the film and requested them that we should go 50-50 screens and they agreed. All over the world from Dubai, UK, Australia and New Zealand they have given us 50-50 screens except in our industry. That's very hurtful to me and I feel betrayed because after talking to them they did this. With these clashes we have to avoid unfair play. Every producer feels my film is the best where he is concerned and where two films are coming if we avoid this and make both films 50-50 screens then it's better for the film industry."
He adds, "This way I am straightaway losing 150 crore! Everybody from the producer, distributor, exhibitor and audience lose as they don't have so much money to spend on two films. It's not lose-lose situation for all. Going by today's 60-40 screen distribution, my collections will be lower tomorrow but God is with me. In my films I have always made the weak stronger. I make a weak person strong because I don't see anybody as weak. I have made different films like Karan Arjun, Koi Mil Gaya and Krissh where I show that the common man can rise above anything. I thought even our film industry will rise with the corporates coming in but now I am very shocked to know we have actually taken a backward step by succumbing to such pressures. The exhibitors are very powerful people and they had to set box office right. I am keeping my fingers crossed though I don't know what the results are going to be but as a producer who has given this film industry 50 years of my work, this practice is not correct.”
The disheartened Kaabil director Sanjay Gupta adds, “It's extremely unfair and I am highly disappointed. If anybody wants to compete do it with good content, not through unfair means. This is not the spirit we would like to live in. I woke up to sheer joy and happiness today when I read the Kaabil reviews in the media but when I turned the page it was a nightmare! I was shocked at the number of shows we were assured (50-50 screens) but that's not the case!"
