"It’s almost like stabbing on the back": Boney slams Rajamouli over RRR-Maidaan clash

drama Maidaan, starring Ajay Devgn, and director SS Rajamouli’s historical drama Roudram Ranam Rudhiram (RRR). In a recent interview, he lashed out at Rajamouli alleging lack of camaraderie among Indian filmmakers.Calling the move 'unethical', he said that Ajay is too much of a gentleman to comment on the matter. Both films are slated for an October 15 release. The veteran producer in a interview to Pinkvilla said,  "It was unethical for those people to announce on the same day, despite the same actor being the main lead of my film and one of the heroes of their film. I would take this to my grave, and it’s almost like stabbing on the back of the hero.”Continuing further he said, "Ajay is a gentleman, he will not say this. But I know how it feels. Here you have, in your main market, a solo hero picture, and then you have a film where you've graciously agreed to do a part with two other heroes. And of course, done by Rajamouli, who has given huge hits; he doesn't have to wait for festivals. He should have that faith and confidence that 'my release date itself will create a festival'."

Boney said that he doesn't buy Rajamouli's explanation that the distributor wanted that particular release date. Boney said that he feels Rajamouli's films would work even if they are released mid-week. "I released Mr India on a Wednesday, so it doesn't matter. But to each his own."Previously, in an interview with a leading daily, Boney said, “In my whole experience till date, I am not aware of anywhere in the world where two films featuring the same star are announced for release on the same day. There was no discussion on this from the makers of RRR. Nor was Devgn informed at the right time of this decision that they took,” he told the publication.Ajay Devgn, the lead actor of Maidaan, has also played a key role in the multi-crore period piece RRR. Boney Kapoor refused to let SS Rajamouli off the hook accusing him of “strong-arm tactics and bullying.” He claimed that the box office clash of these films will further add to woes of the film industry, which has already been ravaged by the Covid-19 induced disruption. Maidaan is a biopic of legendary Indian football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who is widely associated with the golden era of Indian football in 1950s. RRR, meanwhile, is based on the lives of two Independence-era revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, played by Ram Charan and Jr NTR.