Eid 2020 will see a box office showdown between Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar. As Salman starts shooting for Prabhudheva’s Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, Akshay is also working his way through his horror thriller Laxmmi Bomb for the same. The sheer uniqueness of Akshay’s project, in which he plays a transgender person, may prove the USP of Laxmmi Bomb. But then, Salman is Salman.
“Radhe versus Laxmmi Bomb, Salman Khan versus Akshay Kumar… It can’t get any bigger than that. Two biggies arriving on a festival is a common occurrence. In fact, we had multiple biggies clashing during Diwali in the 1970s and 1980s,” reveals trade guru Taran Adarsh.
Taran feels that the clash is inevitable. “We have 52 weeks in a year and with so many films in the pipeline, a clash cannot be averted. It will be eagerly awaited because Eid has been synonymous with Salman. If both films work, it would only pave way for more clashes in future,” he says.
Trade analyst Atul Mohan adds: “Both Salman and AK have delivered the maximum number 100-crore movies, and are neck and neck in the count. Radhe and Laxmmi Bomb are helmed by choreographers-turned-actors-turned-directors Prabhudeva and Raghava Lawrence. Both films are remakes, one of a South Indian film and the other of a Korean film. AK had earlier announced Sooryavanshi as his Eid 2020 release but later postponed his project, as at that time it was to clash with Inshaallah. Now with the Bhansali film shelved, Radhe is coming with Laxmmi Bomb.”
Atul feels there is room for two blockbusters on one festival. “The box office will be divided, there is no doubt about it. But it has been seen that two films can do huge business when they opt to come on the same Friday, on the condition that both should have appealing content,” he explains.
Similarly, trade expert Girish Johar has a hunch that Laxmmi Bomb has an added advantage.
“It is again horror-action-drama film, which is a new genre for Hindi audiences, and it is also a remake of a Tamil blockbuster Kanchana. On the other hand, Salman Khan is maintaining his hold on the Eid slot and coming up with hardcore action film in Radhe. It will be mayhem at the box office on Eid 2020. I am sure both will do well at the BO,” he concludes.
