'Dunki' vs 'Salaar': Shah Rukh, Prabhas may lock horns at the box office this Christmas

It appears that a cinematic clash of titans is on the horizon as the makers of Prabhas' much-anticipated film Salaar have reportedly set their sights on a Christmas 2023 release date, aligning with the release of Shah Rukh Khan's Dunki. The decision to shift Salaar's release date was initially attributed to "unforeseen circumstances," as announced by the film's producer, Hombale Films, on X.

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, in a recent report on his socials, confirmed the Christmas release for Salaar alongside Dunki and mentioned that exhibitors have been informed about this development. Adarsh stated, "Yes, it's true. SRK vs. Prabhas, Dunki vs. Salaar this Christmas. The exhibitors have received a mail stating that Salaar will arrive this Christmas (on December 22, 2023). An official announcement by the producers, Hombale Films, will be made on Friday (September 29, 2023)." He further noted, "This is the second time Hombale Films is clashing with SRK. In 2018 (Christmas), it was Zero vs. KGF (first part). SRK had already blocked Christmas (December 22, 2023) for Dunki... And now Prabhas also stakes claim on December 22,  2023."

Shah Rukh himself confirmed Dunki's Christmas release during the success meet of Jawan, expressing his gratitude for the warm reception of his recent films and emphasising his commitment to hard work and national integration, according to NDTV.

The postponement of Salaar's release date had been previously hinted at when Taran reported that the film would not be arriving on its initially scheduled date of September 28, 2023. The buzz surrounding this change gained momentum, especially as Shah Rukh's Jawan was released on September 7. Many speculated that the shift in Salaar's release date was influenced by the excitement generated by Jawan.

Directed by the acclaimed Prashanth Neel, the mastermind behind KGF, Salaar is set to be released in five languages, including Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Hindi. KGF: Chapter 2, Neel's previous release, shattered box office records upon its 2022 debut. On the other hand, Dunki marks the first collaboration between Shah Rukh and renowned director Rajkumar Hirani. The film also stars Vicky Kaushal and Taapsee Pannu and was filmed in picturesque locations such as Kashmir, Saudi Arabia, and London.

As these two colossal films prepare to battle it out at the box office during the festive season of Christmas 2023, movie enthusiasts can anticipate an electrifying clash between two of Indian cinema's biggest stars.

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