Exclusive: Here's why Akshay and SRK are not worried about their box office clash

Republic Day saw one of the biggest clashes at the box office with Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil releasing on the same day. And now, this Independence Day, two big films are set to clash again. Akshay Kumar’s Toilet — Ek Prem Katha releases alongside the Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma-starrer film directed by Imtiaz Ali. This time around, however, there’s no tussle regarding the number of screens allotted for each film. Seems like SRK and Akshay have buried the hatchet because their films are releasing with equal number of screens across the country.

Distributor Rajesh Thadani says, “Both are big films so they will compete to get equal numbers of screens. They do have equal opening as of now, but it all depends on the hype that the films create closer to the release dates. After all, exhibitors want profit more than anything else and things could change closer to the big day.”

Speaking about the stars’ cold war, a source reveals, “In 2011, when Hema Malini threw a party, she invited SRK and Akshay. SRK had given a cold shoulder to Akshay at the party. The two have never gotten along. But they have resolved their issues and have decided to release their films on the same day.”