Exhibitor Urges Varun Dhawan To Postpone Baby John, Tells Him Clashing With Allu Arjun’s Pushpa 2 Not Good Idea
The much-anticipated Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, is set to hit theaters on December 5, promising to bring the audience back to the edge of their seats. However, the buzz surrounding this blockbuster has raised concerns for another major release this December—Varun Dhawan’s Baby John, slated for a December 25 release.
In a chat with Bollywood Hungama, renowned exhibitor Manoj Desai, Executive Director of Mumbai’s G7 Multiplex and Maratha Mandir cinema, shared his candid opinion on the back-to-back release of two big action films. “I would like to request Varun that, without keeping any ego in mind, postpone the film by one week. Pushpa 2 has its own special place,” said Desai, urging the makers of Baby John to reconsider their release date.
Desai’s concerns stem from the staggering response to the trailer launch of Pushpa 2, which drew an unprecedented crowd of three lakh fans in Patna—a region where South Indian films traditionally struggle to gain traction. “He (Allu Arjun) did such dhamaal over there. So, it won’t be a problem if Baby John gets postponed by a week or two,” Desai added, marveling at the buzz surrounding the film.
Drawing parallels with the recent clash between Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 and Singham Again, Desai highlighted the risks of two major releases vying for audience attention in such close proximity. “Both films did very well in the extended opening weekend, but things didn’t continue to be good for one of them after that,” he explained, warning that a similar fate might await Baby John and Pushpa 2 if they stick to their current schedules.
Despite his advice, Desai acknowledged that the final decision rests with the team behind Baby John. “It all depends on Varun, his producer, or his distributor. If they wish to come together, let them. Let’s see what happens,” he said.
With Pushpa 2 already creating ripples and Baby John carrying the potential to draw action lovers, December promises to be a high-stakes month for Bollywood and pan-India cinema. Whether Varun Dhawan’s team takes Desai’s advice remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—fans are in for an adrenaline-packed holiday season.