Blue clashing with London Dreams

It could be calamitous for two of the biggest films of the year. Vipul Shah"s London Dreams which does not feature the director"s favourite actor Akshay Kumar but Ajay Devgan and Salman Khan, is all set to clash with the new Akshay starrer Blue on the grand Independence Day weekend on August 14.

But two big films during the same week seems suicidal. So Vipul Shah took his friend Akshay Kumar into confidence and met up with Raj Mehtra, head honcho of Asthvinayak to request them for a change in the release date of Blue.

Says Vipul, “It wasn"t just any two big films clashing. It was an Akshay starrer clashing with my film. Akshay is not just a favourite actor, a close friend and business associate. His business interests are my concern. So we did request Raj Mehta to shift the date for their Blue. Yes, they"ve agreed to release the film one week before London Dreams on August 7."

Here"s where the story gets interesting. The director of Blue, Anthony D"Souza shooting round the clock to complete the film insists that they"re on schedule. “As far as I know they (Vipul Shah and London Dreams) are releasing a week before us. We"re releasing on August 13 (a Thursday) which is a public holiday. The added holiday gives us the longest – ever weekend for a film to release and grow."

However Vipul insists London Dreams is coming on August 14. When informed of this Tony says, “In that case we"ll both come together. There"s no way we"re preponing Blue. We want the long Independence Day weekend. Are we stupid to give it up because of competition. In any case London Dreams and Blue are very different films. I believe there"s room for two big films when they don"t clash in theme or star cast."

However Vipul seems to think it"s suicidal to release both films during the same weekend. Last heard, Vipul was still trying to convince the makers of Blue to prepone their release by a week. “I don"t think there should be a problem. Not with Akshay being part of Blue," says Vipul confidently.