Raees Gets Shifted To 2017: Has SRK Succumbed To Pressure?

Everyone who’s seen the Raees teaser would know what date its makers had eyed to release the film. The film which from the very onset was going to be an Eid release was reportedly pushed back to Diwali so it could avert clash with Salman Khan’s Sultan, but reports suggest that Shah Rukh isn’t too comfortable with Diwali either. According to reports, Raees is apparently being shifted down to early next year to occupy a safe and secure release slot.

With biggies this year having already booked all major release slots, there is little room for Raees to enjoy a solo release on a good weekend. However, the bigger question is – isn’t Raees big enough a movie to compete with any box office competition on a given day?

Here’s what the ‘big’ Fridays this year are aligned for:

Eid – Sultan

Independence Day – Mohanjo Daro/Hera Pheri 3

Diwali – Shivaay/ Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Christamas - Dangal

While these are the most desired release dates of the year, amid this movies like Rustom, MS Dhoni, Befikre, Rock On 2 are slated through second half of the year. Jointly produced by Excel Entertainment and Red Chilies, Raees therefore finds its fate hanging nowhere.

With the astonishing box office result of Shah Rukh’s last release Fan and before that an underwhelming performance by Dilwale, here is a risk the makers of Raees aren’t willing to take. With so much at stake, the producers (Shah Rukh included) want a risk free Friday for Raees to come out. And this takes them to 2017 which by the way is pretty stuffed too initially.

Who would have thought an SRK release would struggle to find a suited release slot? While Shah Rukh would have gladly taken on Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay on Diwali, he would still be wary of the fact that Son Of Sardaar when clashed with Jab Tak Hai Jaan made heavy dents into its box office biz. Also, with Bajirao Mastani having completely outplayed Dilwale last year,  a major box office clash with Raees on one side appears out of question.

Touted as a potential 250 crore grosser, while Dilwale could barely touch 150, bigger shock was in store when Fan dipped heavily after its opening weekend and is currently struggling to even touch 100. Raees has a lot riding on itself and Shah Rukh knows he can’t get this wrong considering the choices he’s made for himself in years to come are all risky.

Though his fans would still not want to believe it but the fact of the matter that comes out very evidently is that Shah Rukh Khan has indeed succumbed to box office pressure. The shaky release discussion for Raees vilifies his insecurity and fear of losing out on his stardom.

However still, there is hope. There are plenty around the nation willing to show their patronage to Shah Rukh and even if he wishes to release Raees this year in a box office clash, it may not be such a bad idea after all. The Rahul Dholakia directorial is more commercial (if not completely) than Fan and has a lot of masala element to itself. While we don’t blame Shah Rukh for his insecurity to choose a release date, who knows the film if released soon enough may work in Shah Rukh’s favour?

Here is a man who’s unwilling to take on Salman, Ajay, Akshay, Aamir on box office turf, the same man who we once knew to be the undisputed winner of puffed up box office clashes!