Hi, I have a flight from EWR to BOM, reaching at 8:50 pm and then connecting to an Air India flight 8+ hours later to BLR. Since I have to collect the luggage and clear custom and then recheckin the luggage with AI, can I just dump the AI flight and take my luggage and catch a connecting flight earlier?

If I can do the above, what is the earliest flight I can book? 22:40 or 00:10? Please advise. Thanks.