Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2: The Rule continues to dominate the box office, showing remarkable resilience even in its third week. The Hindi-dubbed version is rewriting records, especially in the northern region. However, the release of Varun Dhawan’s Baby John next week has triggered a standoff between the distributors of Pushpa 2 and North Indian exhibitors.
Anil Thadani of AA Films, the North India distributor for Pushpa 2, has reportedly demanded that theatres must not reduce shows for the blockbuster to accommodate Baby John. A condition was set that exhibitors must provide written assurance to retain Pushpa 2 screenings from December 25 onwards. Failure to meet this condition would result in the withholding of the release order (RO), effectively pulling the film from theatres.
The tension reached a boiling point earlier this week, with reports suggesting that PVR-INOX might remove Pushpa 2 from its screens. Following a midnight meeting on Friday, a temporary truce was reached, allowing advance bookings for Pushpa 2 to reopen, but only until December 22. The film’s fate in North Indian theatres after December 25 remains uncertain.
About Pushpa 2 and Baby John
Pushpa 2: The Rule, directed by Sukumar and featuring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, has shattered records. Its Hindi version has become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time within 16 days, surpassing Stree 2 and Jawan. The Hindi market, contributing ₹11 crore on Friday alone, is crucial to the film’s overall success.
Meanwhile, Baby John, directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee, stars Varun Dhawan, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Keerthy Suresh. An adaptation of the Tamil blockbuster Theri, the action drama is set to release on December 25, during the lucrative Christmas season. With its mass appeal and star-studded cast, it is poised to challenge Pushpa 2’s stronghold at the box office.
