KGF Chapter-1 producer Ritesh Sidhwani denies 'clash' with Shah Rukh Khan's Zero: There's enough space

Mumbai: KGF Chapter-1 is releasing in five languages and will hit the theatres on 21 December. Shah Rukh Khan’s Zero is also scheduled for release the same day, but the makers of film are undeterred, says producer Ritesh Sidhwani. Actor and producer Farhan Akhtar along with partner Ritesh Sidhwani and leading cast of KGF: Chapter 1, Yash and Srinidhi Shetty were present at the second trailer release of the film in Mumbai on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_5525671” align=“alignnone” width=“825”] A still from the trailer of Kolar Gold Fields (KGF). YouTube[/caption] Excel Entertainment’s Ritesh Sidhwani said, “I don’t think it is a clash or a fight for the space. I think there is enough space. The reason we’re coming on the same date is because it is an important festive date for south and we’re releasing in four different south Indian languages. We couldn’t have delayed it.” “We’re not aiming to go as wide as Zero in the north Indian market. So there will be no clash.” With Indian film industry producing movies in so many languages, there are questions whether the industry has reached a point where language of the story is not important but the story itself, - at a time when Akhtar became a presenter of a Kannada film. “Yeah… I couldn’t agree more. I think barriers are honing down every single day and the world is becoming a smaller place. We are enjoying work from cultures and languages which we weren’t familiar with many years ago,” said Akhtar. “In digital revolution, we are consuming content without bothering whether it’s subtitled or dubbed. Filmmaking eventually is about storytelling. I feel story of KGF is very strong and it’s visually very exciting. Ritesh (Sidhwani) and I are presenter of this film and we are very honoured being part of it and presenting it to the Hindi-speaking audience,” said Akhtar. Excel Entertainment, known for commercial Hindi drama films, such as Rock On!! 2, Raees, Fukrey series, Gold and many more, is now backing up KGF which is a Kannada film. Sidhwani says cinema has overcome the language barrier. “As long as the story is engaging, there will be some emotional connect to it. As long as the film connects with you, emotionally identifies with you, I don’t think language would be a barrier,” said Sidhwani. An action period drama based on Kolar gold fields, it is written and directed by Prashanth Neel and produced by Vijay Kiragandur under the banner Hombale films. The film stars Yash and Srinidhi Shetty in the lead roles.