Upala KBR (DNA; January 29, 2014)

Two decades ago Anil Kapoor and Jackie Shroff were rivals. Although they did many films together, they were always pitted against each other. They were considered for the same roles, romanced the same heroines on screen and they both vied for Subhash Ghai’s attention. The filmmaker introduced Shroff in Hero, and gave Kapoor his biggest hit — Ram Lakhan.

As years progressed, Kapoor, the committed and aggressive, went far ahead in the game, while Shroff got left behind. No one even spoke of them in the same breath. Until now. Shroff’s son Tiger is making his big screen debut in Heropanti on May 16 and Kapoor’s nephew Mohit Marwah’s, (who Kapoor considers a son and has practically grown up in his house) film Fugly also hits the screens on the same day.

But this time there is no rivalry. The actors have both grown up and mellowed down. Today, they value friendship more than films. So the two films clashing is not likely to cause any bitterness between them. Anil says, “I want both the films to be big hits! These days stars make so much fuss about their films releasing on the same day but we forget that Dil and Ghayal both released on the same day and went to become big hits. As did Gadar and Lagaan. There’s always space for two films on the same day and both can do well if they are good films. Though none of Jackie’s and my films clashed ever on the same day I know many others heroes did and went to become super hits. Such things can never affect our friendships. Jackie and I go back 30 years and apart from us being close friends even our wives — Sunita and Ayesha — are also in touch.”

Jackie says, “Anil and I share a bond that can never get affected by anything. Mohit is as much a part of our family as Anil’s. Ayesha and I would like to wish both the films success.” His wife Ayesha adds, “It’s been a wonderful friendship of many years... It’s going to be a double celebration for sure!”