Dinesh Vijan on cancelling Bhool Chuk Maaf's theatrical release: ‘It’s natural to wonder…’

(From left) Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi in Bhool Chuk Maaf

Calling off a film's theatrical outing a day before its release is almost unheard of. But then, unusual circumstances demand unusual decisions. Producer Dinesh Vijan understands this perfectly. That's why in light of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan, the producer, on Thursday, May 8, announced that the Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi-starrer, Bhool Chuk Maaf, was bypassing its theatrical release and would instead directly arrive on Amazon Prime Video a week later. The statement issued by the makers read, "In light of recent events and the heightened security drills across the nation, we, at Maddock Films and Amazon MGM Studios, have decided to bring our family entertainer, Bhool Chuk Maaf, directly to your homes on May 16 only on Prime Video, worldwide."

Dinesh Vijan

Such a decision not only involves last-minute changes, but also poses the risk of adversely affecting the film. When mid-day reached out to Vijan to understand how they took the call, he said that they were led purely by the need of the hour. He said, "In light of recent events, we felt a strong responsibility to prioritise the collective sentiment of the nation. Today, what matters more is standing together as a nation when it counts. Of course, there were last-minute changes, and it's natural to wonder how this will impact the film." He added that despite the challenging turn of events, he was confident that the Karan Sharma-directed comedy would find its way into the audience's hearts. "If there is one thing we've learned, it's that a good story always finds its audience. We hope Bhool Chuk Maaf brings warmth and laughter when we all need it most." The comedy about a couple stuck in a time loop marks Maddock Films' second release of the year after its blockbuster Chhaava.

With only a day to go for its release, the feel-good movie's advance booking had naturally begun. We learnt that ticket holders across the country will be issued refunds. A trade source said, "In such cases, exhibitors refund the money. So whatever tickets have been bought in the pre-sales of Bhool Chuk Maaf, the exhibitors will return the money."