The release date of actor Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees has been pushed to 2017, a move that will mean no box-office clash with Salman Khan’s Sultan.
The Rahul Dholakia-directed film, which was scheduled to release alongside Sultan this Eid, will now release on January 26, 2017.
Raees is co-produced by Shah Rukh’s Red Chilies Entertainment, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment.
“It was not an easy decision to move the film. We understand that Raees is highly anticipated. However, a film of such magnitude requires the appropriate showcasing and therefore, we have decided to shift our release date to 26th January, 2017,” the producers said in a statement.
Shah Rukh had earlier hinted that he wanted to avoid a box-office clash with his friend Salman’s project.
Sultan, where the Dangangg star plays a Haryanvi wrestler, will enjoy a solo release this Eid, a strategy that has in the past helped him deliver many blockbusters like Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Kick.
Interestingly, the Indian Republic Day weekend of 2017 is already booked with Ajay Devgn’s Baadshaho and Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil.
Raees is set in 1980s Gujarat. It tells the story of bootlegger Raees Khan (Shah Rukh) whose business is challenged and eventually thwarted by a police officer, played by actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
