Is Don 2 a message from Shah Rukh to Sunny

July 23, 2011 - 2:14 AM IST

Just a couple of days back we had reported how Shah Rukh Khan's unveiling of Don 2 has resulted in mercury level rising for quite a few films, including his own Ra.One which would now have to contend with comparisons being made due to similar genre in which the two films are set. As it turns out, an early arrival of Don 2 wasn't just intended to establish Shah Rukh's might as someone who was looking at dominating the last quarter of the year. It now also means that strong warning signals have been sent to all other films that were trying to arrive in the vicinity of Don 2.

Is Don 2 a message from Shah Rukh to Sunny

"In one single stroke, Shah Rukh has announced that who is the 'King'", says a filmmaker on condition of anonymity, "He is fine if other actors and directors arrive in the same month as him. However he can't be expected to take it lying down if someone tries to take him heads-on. Sanjay Leela Bhansali tried doing that by pitching his Saawariya
against Om Shanti Om and everyone knows its fate. Ever since then other filmmakers have learnt their lessons due to which no one dared to come anywhere close to either Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi or My Name Is Khan."

This is a message that can be expected to have reached the ears of Sunny Deol and his team as well who have been planning to take Don 2 heads on with their I Love New Year. As reported earlier, no one is lost between Shah Rukh and Sunny ever since their Darr face-off a decade and a half ago. With Christmas plans for both Don 2 and I Love New Year, there was a buzz in the air that the rivalry would be resumed all over again.

"It would be interesting to see though whether Sunny would still want to proceed with his original plans. As per insider reports, his romantic musical with Kangna has shaped up well too and has all in it to do well commercially. However, to bring two biggies together on the same day is not a good idea, especially when one of them features Shah Rukh and has already launched it's First Look that has met with such terrific response", reasons a trade guru.

The makers of I Love New Year are in a predicament as well because to justify the title of their film, it only makes sense to arrive in a weekend in and around the New Year.

"Pushing the film ahead by a week or a fortnight may not be a bad idea since nothing is planned for 30th December or 6th January. Yes, agreed that these two weeks are considered as jinxed in the industry but didn't No One Killed Jessica break that jinx by being the first release of the year and still turning out to be successful", he
questions.

Whatever is the decision that is eventually taken, one thing is loud and clear that a definite message has certainly been conveyed by Shah Rukh and the ball is in Sunny's court now.