Multiplex owners have locked horns with Karan Johar and UTV to block the advance booking of Ranbir-Deepika starrer Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. Till late Thursday enquiries at booking counters across the city failed to elicit any information on when the tickets will be available for the Friday release. Mirror has learnt that multiplex owners have refused to part with the usual 52 per cent to the distributor (UTV in this case). While the owners have been giving smaller films a tough time over profit sharing, this is the first time a big-budget movie has been affected.
 
A leading distributor said: “This can affect the opening collection of the movie. Such issues should be sorted out once and for all.” A source from a leading suburban multiplex revealed that debate on the profit sharing has been going on since one week: “Multiplexes work on a sum-assured formula which varies from film to film. If the net collections cross that amount, the distributor is given 52 per cent of the collection; otherwise, they get 50 per cent. The bone of contention here is this base amount—UTV wants it to be on the lower side.”

Another multiplex owner pointed out that it is impossible for them to give in to the demands of UTV with competition on the rise and prices of movie tickets also being slashed. Both Dharma and UTV are trying their best to resolve differences with the multiplex owners. However, when contacted, KJo’s team refused to comment on the proceedings. At the time of going to the press, a multiplex owner confirmed that talks are on to break the deadlock at the earliest. “Frankly speaking, we don’t want to lose the film,” he said.