The great exchange: Salman's Diwali with Prem Ratan Dhan Payo versus SRK's Eid with Raees

It’s not wrong to state that Diwali has been synonymous with the release of a Shah Rukh Khan film, and this phenomenon goes all the way back to 1993. Baazigar was Shah Rukh’s first Diwali release and went on to be a blockbuster for an actor who was all set to be slot as a villain (FYI, Anil Kapoor and Salman Khan turned down this role). And then came Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, another Diwali release. DDLJ was a blockbuster, yes, but it may have set a precedent for Shah Rukh, because his next few films all released in and around Diwali. From Kuch Kuch Hota Hai to Don to much more recently Ra.One and Happy New Year, all these films hit theatres in the October to December bracket, and there has been no Diwali without our dose of the romantic SRK arms-wide-open pose. However, this year, Shah Rukh’s big release, Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale, is out in theatres on 18 December (alongside Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, but that’s a conversation for another day). Meanwhile, Salman Khan starrer Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is releasing on November 12, the day after Diwali. [caption id=“attachment_2497794” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Salman Khan from PDRP and Shah Rukh Khan from Raees.[/caption] Not one for labels, but as audience members, we are confused. What happened to Salman’s Eid, Aamir Khan’s Christmas and Shah Rukh’s Diwali? Was that a figment of our imagination? With news that SRK’s next film Raees is slotted to release on Eid 2016 (SRK has never had an Eid release, as opposed to ‘Bhai’s monopoly), could this be the great Diwali exchange? Red Chillies Entertainment stoically begs to differ. An official from the banner who wishes not to be named said, “There’s no specific reason for our December release. We were just looking at a holiday to release Dilwale so that we could reach out to a larger audience. Christmas happened to be just that for us.” Meanwhile, be prepared to watch a regal Salman Khan as Prem in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo on the big screen, this festival of lights. And while Red Chillies is attributing coincidence as the reason for their choice of a December release, Barjatya Films has its eyes very clearly set on Diwali. “PRDP is a family film, and we feel that there’s no better choice than Diwali for the release of our film. It’s a long weekend, and it’ll end up being a family outing,” said Rajjat Barjatya, Head of New Media and Digital Entertainment at Rajshri Productions. In its defence, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo does seem to have all the ingredients to make it a perfect Diwali release. Grand sets, drama, lots of naach-gaana, Salman Khan and a pretty looking Sonam Kapoor. (She may be a chic fashionista outside this film’s universe, but for now she’s the thumka-shaking_,_ bubbly-yet-traditional Rajshri heroine.) We still slyly remind Barjatya about Salman’s Eid monopoly over the years. After all, ‘Bhai’ and Eid go hand in hand. “Diwali is definitely better. We had locked this date all the way back in 2013. There is immense euphoria around the film, and it’s very similar to Hum Aapke Hai Koun. Families are booking 10-15 tickets in a go. It’s like a celebration,” adds Barjatya. It is, indeed, a celebration. Does it matter whose celebration? This Diwali, you’ll be swapping Shah Rukh for Salman, but you’ll get him back next year during Eid. (Along with another Salman film, Sultan). We don’t hear any complaints.