The battle at the box office between Dhurandhar 2 and Toxic has been averted, what with Toxic moving to June.
Trade expert Taran Adarsh feels it is a sound move. “A wise and timely move by the makers of Toxic to shift the release date – and for multiple reasons. Had Toxic and Dhurandhar 2 arrived on the same date, it would undoubtedly have been a historic box office showdown. However, even before release, tensions between distributors over screens and show allocations would have escalated. Additionally, fan rivalry and pre-release negativity could have spilled over into the post-release phase, potentially impacting the business of both films.”
Taran feels the two mammoth movies rubbing shoulders made little business sense. “From the business point of view, the Iran-Israel war and the prevailing uncertainty in the Middle East have led to the postponement of Toxic. Yash enjoys massive popularity in the Middle East, and the current situation could have curtailed Toxic’s business prospects in the region. With Toxic now slated for June, both films will enjoy solo releases, allowing them to maximise their individual boxoffice potential. And let’s not forget – these are two of the most anticipated films on the horizon, with substantial investments riding on each. A clash might have created noise, but it would also have diluted business prospects. Arriving on separate dates is a far more strategic and commercially sound decision.”
