Akshay Kumar: Everyone has the right to release their film whenever they want

While a box-office clash between two heavyweights is never great news for the trade, it is now certain that Pad Man will lock horns with Padmaavat on 25 January.

However, Pad Man star Akshay Kumar and his wife Twinkle Khanna, co-producer of the film, are not upset with Padmaavat director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

A Zoom report quoted Akshay Kumar as saying: “It is not about competition, it is a very big day, a big week, so all films can come, both films can be released on that day. Every film has the right to release whenever they want, and I am happy for them.” 

Khanna said the clash was unfortunate and could have been avoided. “It is not pleasant for both [parties] and will impact both," the former actress told The Hindustan Times newspaper. "But they have also been through enough of their own hurdles. I just wish they had come a week earlier or a week after us. I am sure Mr [Sanjay Leela] Bhansali has made a wonderful movie, but we are very confident of our content. So, I am not apprehensive, and we are not going to move because we are very happy with [the date] we have."

Bhansali has never directed Akshay Kumar, but he had producer the actor's blockbuster Rowdy Rathore (2012).