Akshay Kumar’s Toilet — Ek Prem Katha was supposed to release on 2 June. But the makers have now postponed the film's release to 11 August. This is also the day when Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma’s The Ring (working title) will hit the theatres.
Interestingly, one of Kumar's other upcoming films, Crack was supposed to release on 11 August. But the makers avoided the clash with Khan by postponing the film to 2018. However, it seems the box office battle between both stars was inevitable with the postponement of Toilet.
This is the third time that Khan and Kumar will be clashing after Veer Zaara-Aitraaz (2004) and Don-Jaan-e-Mann (2006). Although on both occasions, Khan's film managed to earn more, Aitraaz didn’t do badly either.
The Raees actor’s Chennai Express (2013) released a week before Kumar's Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara (2013). The extended positive run of the former affected the latter.
But off late, Khan’s record hasn’t been impressive when it comes to clashes. His Dilwale (2015) lost out to Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani (2015). At the start of this year, Raees earned more than Kaabil but the film wasn’t a big hit.
Kumar, on the other hand, won his last clash comprehensively when Rustom defeated Hrithik Roshan’s Mohenjo Daro.
Produced by Neeraj Pandey, Toilet — Ek Prem Katha is directed by Shree Narayan Singh. Imtiaz Ali has helmed The Ring.