The clash between “Mohabbatein” and “Mission Kashmir” in 2000 was a significant event in Bollywood, with both films having high expectations and releasing during the festive season of Diwali. The clash not only divided collections but also added an interesting element to the competition between Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, who had already gained immense popularity with his debut film, “Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai.”
“Mission Kashmir” had the advantage of more screens (400) compared to “Mohabbatein” (315) and even opened better at the box office, earning Rs. 1.64 crore on the first day, compared to “Mohabbatein’s” Rs. 1.19 crore.
The former had a weekend collection of Rs. 4.86 crore, which was the highest ever for a Bollywood film at that time. However, despite the initial success, “Mission Kashmir” faced a decline in collections as the days passed. The film earned praises from critics, but its violent theme and lackluster script resulted in a drop in family audience attendance. Ultimately, “Mission Kashmir” had a lifetime earning of Rs. 22.99 crore, making it the third biggest grosser of the year with an ‘Average’ verdict.
On the other hand, “Mohabbatein” sustained well at the box office. Despite its excessive length of 215 minutes, the film was appreciated for its Shah Rukh Khan vs. Amitabh Bachchan theme, performances, music, and light moments. The unique concept of a scorned lover returning to college as a music teacher to teach the dean the meaning of love resonated with the audience. “Mohabbatein” had a healthy run and ultimately accumulated a massive Rs. 41.88 crore, securing the number 2 spot and becoming the second blockbuster of the year after “Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai.”
Final verdict
Mohabbaein won the battle with Mission Kashmir by a huge margin in the long run. While Mohabbatein” had a healthy run and ultimately accumulated a massive Rs. 41.88 crore .On the other hand “Mission Kashmir” had a lifetime earning of Rs. 22.99 crore,
