In a humiliating blow to Actor-Producer Ajay Devgn the Competition Commission of India ( CCI) rejects his plea against  Yash Raj Films (YRF) for their alleged abuse of dominant position ahead of release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan (JTHJ). The CCI has rejected the plea of Devgn against YRF for their alleged abuse of dominant position ahead of release JTHJ. The CCI didn’t find any merit in the case. According to CCI, there is no case of abuse of dominant position. They said that the filed case is a case of first comer. That cannot be held against YRF. Hence, there is no violation of Section 3 of the Competition Act.

Devgn alleged that YRF was abusing its dominant position and was asking exhibitors to provide more screens to their release than for his film Son of Sardaar.

Both the films will be released this Diwali, November 13, 2012.
However the actor said that this was not a personal fight between him and SRK. "This fight is not between Shah Rukh and Ajay Devgn and there is no fight between both of us. This is unnecessarily people has created. Both of us are actors. This is Ajay Devgn as a producer, fighting for his right with some other producer and if people are playing with it then it's wrong".

Ajay Devgn filed the case on october 18th just before Yash Chopra's death and later came to know that he can't take his case back according to the rules of the Commission. He said “ "We filed the case on Oct 18th when we hadn't even thought that Yashji will be hospitalised. Main problem was that the timing went wrong. We filed the case long back and as per the law you can't withdraw the case filed with the Competition Commission. My fight is not with them; it is just against right and wrong. Again I am talking about it, but I am not supposed to talk about it.”

Talking about the financial aspects of the case he added "Sadly, post Yashji's death many people pressurized me through media and said I should delay my film. Till now Rs.80 to Rs.90 crore have been put in the film. Corporates are involved and they are answerable to share-holders. So with all due respect, I thought of releasing it on the same day".

He earlier spoke about not having the option of postponing the date of releasing a film for it's not a feasible option. He complained for being a victim as he pointed out "When I said ask Aamir Khan to release his film ('Talaash') after two weeks and ask Akshay Kumar to release his film ('Khilade 786') on Christmas or ask Salman Khan to go for January release (for 'Dabangg 2') people said that's not possible. So, why only Ajay will have to sacrifice? I don't feel any pressure when I gave this option-sab chup ho gaye na".

And now when the verdict has come out against his favor, metaphorically SOS lost the first round to JTHJ. Now both Son of Sardar and Jab Tak Hain Jaan will have to try to gain attention only in the form of what they have to offer to the movie goers. However the sentiment in the hearts of the audience following the death of Yash Chopra and JTHJ being his final film that too with SRK is clearly making it as an unequal competitor. To make the matters worse for SOS now they will have less screens.

And still Ajay says no enmity between him and SRK. Yes..We believe it..!

(AW-Jyotishman)