Ajay Devgn's Son of Sardaar 2 Struggles For Screens As Saiyaara, Mahavatar Narsimha Dominate
Ajay Devgn's much-awaited comedy sequel Son of Sardaar 2 is finding it difficult to secure screens just days ahead of its theatrical release on August 1. Despite the star power and the franchise's earlier success, the film's release strategy has hit a major hurdle, as cinema exhibitors across India appear hesitant to allocate enough showtimes to the title, especially with recent hits still dominating the box office.
According to a report by Pinkvilla, the film's distributors have been pushing for a significant 60 per cent share of total shows, but many exhibitors have been unwilling to comply. 'Exhibitors are willing allot not more than 35 per cent of shows at their properties," the report states. 'While some single screens have agreed on two-shows per-day, the non-national chains are willing to give not more than 35 per cent shows to Son of Sardaar 2. This has left PVRInox fuming, and the fight is on to secure more shows."
The reluctance comes at a time when current box office performers like Saiyaara and Mahavatar Narsimha continue to draw substantial footfall. Displacing these crowd-pullers is seen as a financial risk for theatre owners. With both films still gaining momentum, exhibitors are prioritising them over new releases.
In contrast, Dhadak 2, which releases the same day as Son of Sardaar 2l has sidestepped the problem by opting for a limited rollout. 'Dhadak 2 team is going tight with their release with about 1000 screens on the first day. They are not looking for a wide release, and content with a strategic release on 1000 screens, mainly focused towards the urban markets," the report adds.
The makers of Son of Sardaar 2 had originally planned a wide release across 3,500 screens nationwide. However, due to current conditions, that number may drop to around 2,500. Final decisions on screen allocation are expected by July 31 morning, as negotiations between producers and exhibitors continue.
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