Bollywood is ready to return to cinemas
Major films are getting a theatrical release as Maharashtra reopens movie halls
With Bollywood releases returning to theatres, big ticket films have locked in major holidays for their long awaited projects.
First on the docket was Akshay Kumar, who perhaps has the maximum number of films waiting in line to release. Less than an hour after the Maharashtra government announced that cinemas were to reopen across the Indian state from October 22, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar took to his social media to announce that his film Sooryavanshi will hit theatres on the Hindu festival of Diwali, which falls on November 4 this year.
In a post on social media, the Bollywood star thanked the state government and celebrated with fans that the film industry was finally returning to glory after nearly a year of darkness on account of the pandemic.
“So many families would be thanking Sh Uddhav Thackeray [Maharashtra Chief Minister] today! Grateful for allowing the reopening of cinema halls in Maharashtra from Oct 22. Ab kisi ke roke na rukegi - Aa rahi hai police [There is no stopping them now, the police is coming] #Sooryavanshi #Diwali2021,” posted Kumar on his Twitter.
The action drama, which is part of director Rohit Shetty’s cop universe of films, stars Kumar as the supercop Sooryavanshi. The film is the third in the franchise, followed by Singham and Simmba. Lead stars Ajay Devgn, and Ranveer Singh, who starred in the first two films, also have a cameo in Sooryavanshi.
The star-studded cop vehicle was initially scheduled to release on March 24 last year but was later moved to April 30 this year. But due to the pandemic raging on, the film was postponed again indefinitely until cinemas reopened in Maharashtra.
Shortly after locking in Diwali for Sooryavanshi. Reliance Entertainment announced it had zeroed in on Christmas for the release of the much anticipated cricketing biopic, 83, which stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in the lead.
The Kabir Khan directorial film sees Singh play a reel-life Kapil Dev who led his boys in blue towards cricketing glory in 1983 as they lifted the world cup that year.
“It’s time. 83 in cinemas this Christmas. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam,” Singh tweeted.
Christmas is traditionally the period that Aamir Khan locks in for his film releases, with Laal Singh Chaddha earlier scheduled as the festive outing. However, the actor has now deferred his release and the Forrest Gump remake will now release on Valentine’s Day next year.
Aamir Khan Productions shared the announcement on their official Instagram page. “Due to delays faced as a result of the pandemic, we will be unable to release our film, Laal Singh Chaddha, this Christmas. We will now be releasing Laal Singh Chaddha on Valentine’s Day 2022,” the statement read. The movie also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh and Naga Chaitanya in the lead and is being directed by Advait Chandan.
Not one to be left behind, Yash Raj Films also announced its date with cinemas. Four big-ticket films, including Shamshera, Prithviraj, Bunty Aur Babli 2 and Jayeshbhai Jordaar, will be rolled into theatres by the production house in coming months.
The first film to have a theatrical release from the Aditya Chopra-led studio will be Bunty Aur Babli 2, which stars Saif Ali Khan, Rani Mukerji, Siddhant Chaturvedi and Sharvari in the lead. The film was also extensively filmed in Abu Dhabi in 2019, including scenes at the Emirates Palace.
The Varun V Sharma directorial will release worldwide on November 19, serving as a sequel to the studio’s 2005 blockbuster crime comedy that featured Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan as well.
Neither are reportedly returning for the second installment.
Akshay Kumar’s Prithviraj serves next on the roster, releasing worldwide on January 21, 2022. The movie will also serve as a launch vehicle for the former Miss World 2017, Manushi Chhillar. Directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi, the film also stars Sanjay Dutt and Sonu Sood.