'Pushpa 2' was supposed to be released on August 15. And 'Game Changer' was supposed to be out much earlier. Eventually, they are gearing up for releases in theatres just five weeks apart. Their promotional schedules have inevitably overlapped. The two big-ticket movies are in the news cycle simultaneously.
This is quite a psychological disadvantage for 'Game Changer' and Ram Charan. The crowd-heavy 'Pushpa 2' events in Patna, Chennai, and Kerala have virtually dwarfed the Lucknow event of 'Game Changer'. Comparisons have started to be made between the two heroes and their staminas.
It was always clear that Allu Arjun is far more popular than Ram Charan among the non-Telugu audience. And 'Pushpa 2' is far more popular than 'Game Changer'.
Ideally, 'Game Changer' should have arrived at the theatres three months before 'Pushpa 2'. Had that happened, the comparisons unfolding today in real time could have been averted.
Ram Charan is in for the long haul. If 'Game Changer' and RC16 become blockbusters in Hindi and Tamil, he can hope to give Allu Arjun a stiff competition. For now, though, Bunny is the bigger icon.
