Shah Rukh Khan: Will be logical to avoid 'Sultan', 'Raees' box office clash

With Eid likely to see the box office clash of his 'Raees' and friend Salman Khan's 'Sultan', Shah Rukh Khan feels it would be logical to shift their release dates so that both the films do not eat into each other's business.

Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan

"I think logic will be to shift (release dates of both 'Raees' and 'Sultan'). We will try and figure out a way so that it doesn't eat into each other's business. It is awkward... it's like what are we doing. I don't think we like to have it (box office clash)," Shah Rukh told PTI.

The 50-year-old star said he will talk to his friend Aditya Chopra, who is the producer of 'Sultan', and Salman regarding the box-office clash of both the films.

"Adi (Aditya Chopra) is my family and so is Farhan Akhtar (producer of Shah Rukh's 'Raees'). With all due respect I will speak to Adi, Salman (about avoiding the clash). I have spoken to Farhan already. If we have to change, one of us will move on," Shah Rukh said.

"If they are adamant or fixated that somehow due to some sense of righteousness Eid belongs to Salman Khan so be it." SRK said he and his producers have no ego issues about the release dates of both the films. "Personally Farhan, Adi and I are friends and I don't think we have ego issues. We all know if there is an opening
number assumed in terms of business we will share it 50-50 or whichever ratio. I am not saying X is a bigger star or Y."

But at the same time, Shah Rukh insisted that they are working towards making 'Raees' ready for Eid. "As of now we are making the film ready for Eid. Our production is ready for Eid," he said. Producer Farhan Akhtar too had hinted that they will see if the clash happens or not. Shah Rukh's last film "Dilwale" released alongside Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Bajirao Mastani' - starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra.

"In case of 'Dilwale' and 'Bajirao Mastani', both lost money due to the clash. One doesn't want it," Shah Rukh said, adding, "It has never been a fight of arrogance when it comes to the release of a film. I feel every film should get its due." Rahul Dholakia's "Raees" is set in 1980s of Gujarat. It tells the story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), whose business is highly challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer (Nawazuddin Siddiqui).

Shah Rukh sports a kohl-eyed, scruffy look in the movie. According to him, it is a realistic and honest film. "I wanted to do an intense criminal role with a golden heart. I loved the idea very much and said yes in 20 minutes. I think it will be an interesting film. We have been able to make it in the real zone, and still give it a twist for the masses by having songs and action," he said.

"'Raees' transcends the journey of a man who may not be the best person to make a movie about. He is a bad guy you might like," he said. Shah Rukh had last played a bad guy in the remake of "Don". "Yes, I am, in a way, playing a bad guy after a long time. This film is more realistic and gritty while 'Don' was stylised and sexy. On the sets, some people did not talk to me as I looked mean. It will turn out well," he said.

Actress Sunny Leone will be seen dancing with Shah Rukh in a new take of the 1980 'Laila O Laila' from 'Qurbaani'. The original track featured Feroz Khan and Zeenat Amaan. "We wanted to do the song in the first schedule, that time we did not get it. We did a new song, an original one. It is not an item song. It is a film set in the '80s, so it's a bar number, it is related to the story. "We always wanted to do the song with Sunny. We thought 'Laila...' song is apt for her," he added.

midday