Ajay Devgn and box office clashes: Some hits and some misses

Time of India

4 days ago

Son of Sardaar 2's release was postponed due to Saiyaara's success, a common Bollywood tactic. Ajay Devgn, known for box office clashes, has faced mixed results over the years, sometimes winning big, sometimes falling short. The shift indicates strategic thinking in a changing industry where content can disrupt star power.
When the makers of Son of Sardaar 2 recently announced the film's release had been pushed by a week—from July 25 to August 1—industry watchers were quick to point fingers at the stunning box office performance of Mohit Suri's Saiyaara.
Trade exper Taran Adarsh while announcing the postponment on social media called it a 'Wise Decision'. The romantic drama, featuring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, raked in a whopping Rs 83 crore over its opening weekend, surprising trade experts and reshaping release calendars.
This move — to avoid clashing with a film riding high on word-of-mouth and strong weekend numbers — is not new to Bollywood, especially in recent times. Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha was similarly shifted from its initial release window to avoid competing with the juggernaut that was
Nag Ashwin
's Kalki 2898 AD, which starred Prabhas and continued dominating the box office for weeks. With Saiyaara now threatening to follow the same path, it's no wonder that Son of Sardaar 2 opted for another date and this time he would be clashing with
Karan Johar
backed film Dhadak which is led by
Siddhant Chaturvedi
and Triptii Dimri.
This will be the second time Ajay and Karan would be clashing, first being Shivaay and Ae Dil Hai Muskhil.
But what makes this story more interesting is that the man at the centre of Son of Sardaar 2 —
Ajay Devgn
— is no stranger to box office clashes. Over the years, he has stood toe-to-toe with some of Bollywood's biggest stars and films, and more often than not, he's emerged victorious or at least held his ground. A deep dive into his past clashes reveals a fascinating pattern of risk-taking, mixed results, and surprising resilience.
The Clashes Through the Years: Ajay Devgn vs The Box Office Odds
2022: Thank God vs Ram Setu
Ajay Devgn's Diwali comedy Thank God went up against
Akshay Kumar
's Ram Setu. The result? Ram Setu took the lead with Rs 74.7 crore, while Thank God managed Rs 36.35 crore.
2022: Runway 34 vs Heropanti 2
This was a rare example where Devgn's directorial gamble Runway 34 (Rs 35.49 crore) outperformed Tiger Shroff's action sequel Heropanti 2 (Rs 21.5 crore), proving that solid storytelling can still pull through over formulaic stunts.
2020: Tanhaji vs Chhapaak
Perhaps the most resounding example of Devgn's box office dominance came with Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, which crushed
Deepika Padukone
's Chhapaak. While Chhapaak closed at Rs 34.93 crore, Tanhaji stormed past with Rs 279.59 crore, becoming one of the biggest hits of that year.
2017: Golmaal Again vs Secret Superstar
During Diwali 2017, Golmaal Again (Rs 205.69 crore) clashed with Aamir Khan-backed Secret Superstar (Rs 63.4 crore).
Though the latter was appreciated critically, the box office numbers told a different story. Devgn's mass entertainer comfortably dominated.
2017: Baadshaho vs Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
This clash was closer than expected. Baadshaho managed Rs 78 crore, while
Ayushmann Khurrana
's Shubh Mangal Saavdhan earned Rs 42.79 crore. Devgn's star power kept him ahead, although the latter received better reviews.
2016: Shivaay vs Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
The Ajay Devgn-Karan Johar Diwali duel became infamous for its off-screen drama as much as its box office showdown.
Shivaay earned Rs100.45 crore — a commendable figure — but it was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that had the edge with Rs 113.19 crore, thanks to its music and youth appeal.
2012: Son of Sardaar vs Jab Tak Hai Jaan
This was another explosive Diwali face-off — Devgn's Son of Sardaar clashed with Yash Chopra's swan song Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Despite the odds, Son of Sardaar collected a solid Rs 105.10 crore against JTHJ's Rs 120.87 crore, holding its own and winning big in single screens.
2011: Rascals vs Love Breakups Zindagi
A relatively easier contest. Devgn's Rascals managed Rs 32.6 crore, while Love Breakups Zindagi fizzled out with just Rs 2.25 crore.
2010: Aakrosh vs Knock Out
In a clash of thrillers, Aakrosh (Rs 13.64 crore) led Knock Out (Rs 6.24 crore). Neither was a hit, but Devgn's film fared better.
2010: Golmaal 3 vs Action Replayy
The Diwali weekend once again favoured Devgn. Golmaal 3 (Rs 106.64 crore) emerged a superhit while Akshay Kumar's Action Replayy faltered with Rs 29 crore.
2010: Toonpur Ka Superhero vs Tees Maar Khan
Even in this quirky clash, Tees Maar Khan dominated with Rs 60.96 crore, while Toonpur Ka Superhero struggled at Rs 3.5 crore.
2009: All the Best vs Blue / Main Aur Mrs. Khanna
A triple Diwali clash in 2009 turned out surprisingly well for Ajay. All The Best earned Rs 41.41 crore, surpassing the big-budget Blue (Rs 38.65 crore) and demolishing Main Aur Mrs. Khanna (Rs 7.40 crore).
Ajay Devgn, just like most actors, has had a long and checkered history with clashes — sometimes winning spectacularly (Tanhaji, Golmaal Again), sometimes just falling short ( Shivaay). But what stands out is his consistent willingness to compete head-on. Rarely has he moved away from a clash, which makes the delay of Son of Sardaar 2 notable.
Ajay Devgn may be one of Bollywood's most seasoned warriors when it comes to box office clashes, but the rise of unexpected competitors like Saiyaara shows how the industry is evolving.
In today's market, where content and music-driven youth films can disrupt traditional star power, even veterans like Devgn must choose their battles carefully.
The decision to shift Son of Sardaar 2 is not a sign of weakness — it's a mark of strategic thinking in an unpredictable box office era. And if history is anything to go by, expect Devgn to bounce back — solo release or not — with the same grit and gusto that's defined his 30-year career.