Updated On: 03 March, 2022 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist Team
Much before the Pathaan announcement, three movies were slated to open during the upcoming Republic Day weekend — Luv Ranjan’s yet-untitled film with Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, Siddharth Anand’s Fighter with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, and John’s Tehran

Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan and John Abraham
Finally, it’s official. Shah Rukh Khan announced yesterday that his next, Pathaan, backed by Yash Raj Films, will open in cinemas on January 25, 2023. The teaser sees John Abraham and Deepika Padukone introducing King Khan’s character. The superstar, however, is only seen in a silhouette, making a blink-and-miss appearance. Much before the Pathaan announcement, three movies were slated to open during the upcoming Republic Day weekend — Luv Ranjan’s yet-untitled film with Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, Siddharth Anand’s Fighter with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, and John’s Tehran, produced by Dinesh Vijan. Interestingly, Ranjan bowed out of the clash late Monday evening, rescheduling his film to March 8 next year, coinciding with Holi. That leaves Fighter and Tehran in a three-way clash with Pathaan. Considering it marks SRK’s return to the screen after over four years, it’s a foregone conclusion that YRF won’t budge. Moreover, since Pathaan and Fighter are directed by Siddharth Anand and feature Deepika, he will have to reschedule his aerial action thriller with Hrithik. And John, too, can’t have two releases — Pathaan and Tehran — on the same day. So naturally, Dinesh Vijan might have to look for another suitable date for his action thriller, that is inspired by a true event. Eventually, SRK-John-DP’s Pathaan could very well end up as the solo release of that weekend. Talk of bulldozing the competition.
