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Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun and directed by Sukumar, continues its historic run at the Hindi box office, firmly cementing itself as one of the biggest blockbusters of all time in the region. The film has garnered a staggering ₹620 crore nett in the Hindi market alone, a testament to its massive appeal among audiences across the country. However, this unprecedented success is now at the center of a brewing conflict between the film’s Hindi distributor, Anil Tadani, and India’s leading cinema chain, PVR Inox.

As the film enters its third week in theaters, the industry faces a challenging situation. With Bollywood gearing up for the theatrical release of Varun Dhawan’s Baby John, and other major films like Mufasa also in the pipeline, the screen allocation issue has reached a critical juncture.

The Hindi distributor of Pushpa 2, Anil Tadani, insists on retaining at least 50% of the screens for the film, citing its continued strong performance and massive revenue generation. On the other hand, PVR Inox is under pressure to accommodate upcoming Bollywood releases. Allocating 50% of the screens to Pushpa 2 would leave Baby John and Mufasa with 30% and 20% of the screens respectively, a scenario deemed unviable by stakeholders of the new releases.

The conflict underscores the complexity of balancing audience demand with the interests of distributors and exhibitors. Pushpa 2 has been a runaway success, drawing record-breaking crowds and setting new benchmarks for Hindi-dubbed films in India. Its dominance at the box office makes it a lucrative choice for cinema chains, but the arrival of high-profile Bollywood films complicates the situation.

For PVR Inox, the decision is particularly delicate. While retaining Pushpa 2 ensures sustained footfalls and revenue, under-allocating screens for upcoming Bollywood releases could strain relationships with domestic film producers and distributors.

The outcome of this confrontation remains uncertain. Industry insiders suggest that a compromise might be necessary to accommodate all parties involved. Whether this involves reducing the screen count for Pushpa 2 or negotiating staggered releases for Baby John and Mufasa is yet to be seen.

Amid this dispute, Pushpa 2 continues to perform exceptionally well, showing no signs of slowing down at the box office. Its success not only highlights Allu Arjun’s growing pan-Indian appeal but also sets a new benchmark for South Indian films in the Hindi-speaking market.