(Image source from: How Ajay Devgn avoided a clash with Akshay Kumar?})

2014 is not only turning out to be the year of many big ticket movies, but also innumerable box office clashes as more and more movie are vying for a suitable release date to cash in maximum dough.

As a result, makers are having a nightmare slotting the release date of their movies to evade clash with A-list flicks.

Last time, we saw how an Ajay Devgn film that was slated for release on June 6 this year, was pushed to a later date of November 7, to evade box-office clash with Akshay Kumar’s “Holiday”.

But now, Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar's box-office clash seems inevitable with Akshay's remake of 1982 comedy “Shaukeen” slated for release on November 7.

So once again, Ajay Devgn's movie has been pushed to a later date of December 5.

Trade analysts deem that as a smart move on Devgn's part. “Unless it’s one of the big release windows like Diwali, Christmas or Eid, it doesn’t make sense for two films with such high stakes to come out on the same date. And it’s not demeaning at all on anyone’s part to shift ahead, because it will only optimize the business prospects,” says exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi.

While Akshay and Ajay remained unavailable for a comment, Ajay had said in the past, “We both (he and Kumar) want to avoid clash at the box office…We both would prefer we don’t clash. (sic)”

All said and done, Ajay’s film, which will release on December 5, will face competition from Abhishek Bachchan’s next film, which will hit the marquee on the same day.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury