The clash between Bajirao Mastani and Dilwale is inevitable, but who will emerge victorious?

It’s less than two weeks away now. It’s a clash of the titans, between Rohit Shetty’s Dilwale and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajirao Mastani, where one of the giants must tragically concede defeat.

Most trade experts agree both the films cannot do equally well.

One analyst who wishes to go unnamed says, “It is most unlikely that both Dilwale and Bajirao Mastani will be blockbusters. One of them will have to race ahead. At the moment it seems Dilwale has an edge, although let me quickly add, the other film looks stunning in every frame. Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s touch is evident in every frame of Bajirao Mastani. But for the average youngsters, Dilwale is more connectable. And it has Shah Rukh Khan.”

This analysis is quite right.

How does one compete with the evergreen Shah Rukh-Kajol jodi? Here it would be important to note that every film of theirs from Baazigar to My Name Is Khan has been a blockbuster. Also, Rohit Shetty has created mega-blockbusters with or without Shah Rukh Khan. Plus there are the rising stars Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon, bringing up the rear.

Trade analyst Atul Mohan first choice is also Dilwale, “Because it looks like an out and out racy entertainment, with innovative action scenes and fast, sexy cars. Above all, the mix of Rohit Shetty, SRK, Kajol and Kriti. It can’t go wrong.”

However, another trade analyst Amod Mehra’s preferred film this Christmas is Bajirao Mastani.

“There are a 100 reasons why I prefer Bajirao Mastani. The music is better. The trailer is better. The director is interesting,” says Mehra.

Though the film’s polished look and classy frames are unquestionable, there is a superstition that seems to be lurking around the fate of Bajirao Mastani. Films featuring real-life couples don’t do well (Ram Leela may be an exception). It is up to Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone to decide if they are seeing one another or not.

Also, would the current generation connect with the saga of an 18th century Maratha warrior?

This was the question raised when Bhansali’s Devdas was to be released. A very classy senior actress put forward a resonating point back in 2002, “Darling, who would want to see a film about a drunk loser?”

Only time will tell about this clash of monumental proportions.