After achieving remarkable success with his earlier releases, "Jawan" and "Pathaan," Shah Rukh Khan made a comeback with his third film of the year, "Dunki." Released on December 21, the film enjoyed a promising start at the box office, grossing over 50 crore on its opening day. Rajkumar Hirani's "Dunki" captivated audiences with a profound sense of patriotism, marking its grand entrance into theaters amidst overwhelming fanfare. The enduring bond between SRK and Maratha Mandir, dating back to the 90s, has been one of unwavering support, with the iconic theater consistently showcasing every Shah Rukh Khan film. However, an unexpected turn of events has unfolded with "Dunki."

Regrettably, shows of Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani's "Dunki" at the historic Maratha Mandir are now being replaced by Prabhas starrer dystopian drama, "Salaar." This surprising development has sent shockwaves through the industry. Reports indicate that not only Maratha Mandir but several film exhibitors, particularly single-screen owners, are opting to replace all three shows of "Dunki" with Prashanth Neel's directorial venture, "Salaar - Part One: Ceasefire." Theater owners attribute this decision to a perceived lack of enthusiastic audience response and alleged pressure tactics for a 100% screen share. However, there is no definitive confirmation supporting these claims.

A video shared on social media by a user named Yogesh features an individual expressing concern over Maratha Mandir exclusively screening "Salaar." The caption reads, "UTTER SHAME FOR SHAHRUKH KHAN. Iconic Maratha Mandir Theatre Owners have Replaced #Dunki with Prabhas' #Salaar for all 3 Shows. This is the first time in history an established Hindi Cinema Star has faced this type of Humiliation, Rey @iamsrk, Lottery Expired."

Several single-screen theaters, including INOX Dadar, Plaza Dadar, Mukta A2 New Excelsior, Maratha Mandir, Miraj Thakur Kandivali, Movietime Dahisar, Gold Thane, Anand Thane, Cinepolis Regent Patna, and PVR Rivoli Delhi, which initially featured "Dunki" on Thursday, have now opted for "Salaar" in their Friday screenings. Earlier reports suggested unfair practices in the northern belt, restricting "Salaar" from obtaining sufficient screens due to its proximity to "Dunki." Allegedly, the film faced unequal screen sharing and even withdrawal from PVR INOX and Miraj Cinema. However, PVR issued a clarification, stating, "SALAAR is one of the most anticipated films of the year and it's releasing across pan India PVR INOX cinemas on the scheduled release date i.e., 22 December 2023."

As Maratha Mandir replaces "Dunki" shows with "Salaar," fans express their disappointment, considering it an embarrassing situation for a superstar like Shah Rukh Khan. The unpredictability of the film industry is evident, with one user noting, "The film industry is super unpredictable. Till yesterday, we had rumors of Salaar not getting enough theaters in the North, and today it's the opposite."