Subhash K Jha (DNA; January 19, 2017)

Salman Khan-starrer Tiger Zinda Hai is releasing on Christmas this year — a weekend Aamir Khan usually reserves for his own releases. for several years now, Just like Eid is reserved for Salman, Christmas is booked by Aamir.

Goodwill gesture
When Salman wanted to release his film in the last week of the year, he called Aamir and asked him if he was planning a release this year. And only when Aamir said no, did Salman go ahead and announce his film. That’s a goodwill gesture in times when producers are announcing their films on dates announced by other actors in advance.

‘Borrowing’ Christmas
This year, Salman-starrer, Kabir Khan’s Tubelight is scheduled for Eid, and the superstar needed another holiday date for his second release in 2017 and he was left with no choice but to ‘borrow’ Christmas from his pal.

Janamdin ka tohfa
A source in the know says, “Salman checked with Aamir if he had anything scheduled for Christmas this year. Aamir happily told him, ‘This Christmas is all yours.' His next, Thugs Of Hindostan is expected to release on Christmas in 2018.” And this is being seen as nothing less than a birthday gift for Salman, who celebrates his janamdin, two days after Christmas.

Meanwhile, Aamir has begun preparing for Thugs Of Hindostan. The beard and long hair will remain until the shooting is complete. The Dangal director Nitesh Tiwari is also working on another script for Aamir.

HIGHLIGHT
Tiger Zinda Hai would be Salman’s first Christmas release since Dabangg 2 in 2012.