Akshay and Salman clash – The inside story

By Bollywood Hungama News Network -

July 4, 2011 - 6:50 AM IST

Battle lines have been drawn once again between Salman Khan and close buddy Sajid Nadiadwala, what with former's Ek Tha Tiger declaring it's clash with latter's Housefull 2. However, this time around the 'dabangg' Khan may just be 'ready' with an excuse, the key being the third player in the scheme of things - Yash Raj Films.

Akshay and Salman clash – The inside story

"So much is being said and written about Salman throwing an open challenge to buddy Sajid by declaring plans for his films. Salman is being made as the villain of the piece and there are all sorts of evidences from the past being dug out. However, what one is forgetting is that Ek Tha Tiger isn't really a quintessential Salman starrer where he owns every department. It is not him in the decision making capacity here, it is the Chopras", informs a source close to the actor.

So while Wanted was the starting point of it all, Dabangg was a home production and reins of Ready were apparently taken over by Salman, the superstar 'bhai' can't really repeat the feat for Ek Tha Tiger as he is primarily in the capacity of an actor. If at all
Chopras have a 'ghar ka hero', it is Shah Rukh Khan. This means all the special privileges, especially the one surrounding the release date, is something not in Salman's hands.

However, people close to Sajid Nadiadwala camp aren't taking this announcement too lightly. For the uninitiated, there have been talks of all not really being well between Salman and Sajid for last few months now. Since they haven't worked together for long, speculations have further gained heat though none of the two parties have actually spoken
out against each other. Now with their films coming face to face with each other, the situation has only become murkier.

"More than thinking about whether Salman could or could not throw his weight in the Chopras territory, the makers of Housefull 2 are wondering if it was indeed right for Ek Tha Tiger to actually announce the same release date as theirs", says a source, "After all
Chopras have been in business for decades and it is expected that they would have given the impending clash a good thought. Two films as huge as Housefull 2, which boasts of more than a dozen A-league actors, and Ek Tha Tiger, which is a biggie riding on Salman Khan's star power, should ideally not be colliding at the box office. It is not good for the industry."

The current status for both the films read as Housefull 2 being more than 25% through while Ek Tha Tiger still waiting to go on floors. Meanwhile none of the two parties are currently looking at budging from their original spot. While Yash Raj Films has already finalised 1st June 2012 as the D-date, the first Friday after IPL conclusion, Sajid
too believes that there is no reason to back out since he announced the date first.

When queried around his equation with Salman, Sajid says, "Why are you bringing Salman in every conversation? This is a clash of two big films that we are talking about. That's more important. All I know is that we are certainly coming on 1st June."