`Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Again` to be released as per pre-determined schedule`

Mumbai: Actor Tusshar Kapoor has denied reports of "unhealthy competition" between his sister Ekta Kapoor and fellow producers over the release date of the second instalment of `Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai` and `Chennai Express` in single screen theatres.

Clearing the air on the reports that Ekta has decided to club `Once Upon A Time in Mumbai Again` (OUATIM 2) with her five other films, Tusshar said there was no conflict of interest with other producers. Both `OUATIM 2` and UTV Motion Pictures``Chennai Express` are likely to be released on Eid this year. "I guess we had announced the release of `OUATIM 2` long ago. We are sticking to our old strategy. No one is looking to outdo another. There is no unhealthy competition. I think the release date was announced earlier", Tusshar told reporters here on behalf of his elder sister Ekta. According to media reports, UTV Motion Pictures set a precondition of dedicating four shows in a day to Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone-starrer `Chennai Express` if they want to buy Ajay Devgn`s `Himmatwala`. "As a brother, I am giving an assurance that Ekta has not clubbed `OUATIM 2` with rest of our five releases this year", Tusshar said. The five films are `Ek Thi Dayan`, `Lootera`, `Shootout At Wadala`, `Ragini MMS 2` and `Shaadi Ke Side Effects`. Dismissing reports that Ekta`s move to club releases of these films with `OUATIM 2` was a counter to UTV, Tusshar said Bollywood has the precedent when two big films were released on the same date. "We have seen two films released on the same date and they worked individually at the box office. This is something we have witnessed in the past, like during Diwali", he said. Yash Raj Films started the trend last year with `Ek Tha Tiger`, by reportedly asking the theatres that they can only screen `Ek Tha Tiger` if they agree to exclusively screen the banner`s next film on Diwali. The YRF clashed with Ajay Devgn last year when the latter refused to change the release date of his `Son of Sardaar`, from November 13, the day Shahrukh`s `Jab Tak Hai Jaan` was released across the country. PTI