September 22, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): Shifting ahead of 'Anjaana Anjaani' has proven to be an expensive affair for many a film maker who were planning to release their movies in the month of October. The most prominent of them all is Kumar Mangat who would now be shelling out one crore extra for the continued promotion of his newest production 'Aakrosh'. Reason being that this Priyadarshan directed film has now been pushed ahead by a week to avoid competition with the Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra starrer. The film would now be releasing on 8th October even though the decision means an escalation in cost of promotion.
"It's okay, this is just a matter of Rs. One crore. If the film does well, this money would be back in a day's time", Mangat makes light of the situation even though his film had pretty much peaked in promotion, "A week more of promotion is only going to help the film further. I guess people are warming up to the talkie promos now so we are going to reveal more about the dramatic and intense mood of the film."
One wonders though whether he gave the entire postponement an intense thought.
"It wasn't required; the decision was pretty instant actually", he says with a straight face, "The moment Sajid (Nadiadwala) announced the change in plans; I too shifted my film ahead. There is no point that three big films clash. 'Robot' is coming on 1st October as well and it would have been difficult for one Friday to accomodate 'Anjaana Anjaani', 'Aakrosh' as well as 'Robot'."
He is comfortable though that 'Aakrosh' would be competing with the other big release on 8th October, 'Crook'. "Two big films can comfortably survive; that's never an issue", he smiles.
While taking this decision, did he get into a conversation with Sajid? "No, I didn't. It is an independent decision", Mangat says, "I am not a person who carries egos. I am a businessman first and think rationally. I don't have any complaints either. They had their own reasons to push the film further. I respect that. Now I have pushed my own film ahead too without any grudge whatsoever. It's okay; such things happen in the world of films. One can't be too attached to the original plans."
-- Joginder Tuteja / Sampurn Wire