Prashanth Neel on 'Salaar' Vs 'Dunki war turn ugly: "We are not competitors, this is not a cricket match"

In the world of cinema, clashes at the box office are not uncommon, but when possessive fans turn it into a battleground, filmmakers often find themselves addressing unnecessary conflicts. Prashanth Neel, the director of Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, featuring Prabhas and Prithviraj Sukumaran, recently opened up about the Christmas clash with Dunki, directed by Rajkumar Hirani and starring Shah Rukh Khan. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Neel shared his perspective on the clash, dismissing the notion of a war between the two films.

The clash between Salaar and Dunki took an ugly turn as passionate fans engaged in heated debates and online rivalries. Prashanth Neel addressed this, acknowledging the emotions that often come into play when fans root for their favorite stars. He stated, "You root for your heroes, and the emotions get the better of you. It might be that way (war) for the fans, but for us, we are not trying to compete with one another. We are both trying to survive together."

Neel expressed his disapproval of the negativity surrounding the clash, describing it as "nasty." He emphasized that both Shah Rukh Khan and Prabhas are stalwarts in Indian cinema who deserve respect for their contributions over the years. Neel wished that the clash hadn't escalated to such levels, emphasizing that the unhealthy environment created by fan rivalries is not conducive to the film industry.

Setting the record straight, Prashanth Neel stated, "There is no war between Dunki and Salaar. I don't think either of us thinks like that. We are here to survive and impress the audience. We are here to entertain the audience. We are not here to compete amongst ourselves. This is not a cricket match."

Despite the fan-driven rivalry, both Dunki and Salaar have found success at the box office. According to film trade analyst Manobala Vijayabalan, Salaar has grossed an impressive ₹556.84 crore in eight days, taking the lead over Dunki, which grossed ₹323.77 crore in the same period.