Mentor-Disciple, Adi-Karan  Are Fierce Rivals Now, Here Is Why

By A  Correspondent

Could it be  a coincidence  that the boxoffice fortunes of Dharma Productions and Yash Raj films, helmed by best friends Karan Joharand Yash Chopra,are moving in opposite directions? While AdityaChopra’s last two films Befikre and Meri Pyari Bindu have severely underperformed at the boxoffice, Karan Johar’s two productions this year Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya and of course Baahubali 2: The Conclusions are both blockbusters.

An astute trade watcher has an interesting observation. “Clearly the letter ‘B’ is very lucky for Karan Johar….Badrinath, Baahubali….but it isn’t at all lucky for Aditya Chopra… Bindu, Befikre. So maybe Adi needs to consult  a  reliable  astrologer.”

Interestingly the two banners, helmed by two of the entertainment industry’s cleverest strategists  have been producing similar films for a while. Some years ago when Karan Johar produced Kurbaan , directed by Rensil d’Silva about a jihadi terrorist  in the US, AdityaChopra planned and produced New York ,directed by Kabir Khan,on the same  theme.

New York clicked. Kurbaan bombed.

Now the Chopras’  Meri Pyari Bindu looks like  a carryover fromKaran Johar’s Ae  Dil Ha Mushkil.

Karan’s film on unrequited love was a hit. Adi’s take  on one-sided love has just bombed.

In the coming months the war between the two primary production houses of Bollywood will escalate. The poaching of directors has  begun. Siddharth P Malhotra who directed We Are Family for KaranJohar has moved to Yash Raj Films to direct Mrs Aditya Chopra RaniMukherjee in  Hichki.