‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ Skips Theatrical Release, Court Stays OTT Release

Indian production house Maddock Films faces major legal roadblock just days ahead of its latest release, the Hindi film Bhool Chuk Maaf. In wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the film’s theatrical release was cancelled. The producers announced a direct-to-digital release on May 16. Soon, India’s largest movie chain PVR INOX approached Bombay High Court seeking $7 million damages. The court has now ordered a stay on the digital release of the film till June 16, according to reports.

Bhool Chuk Maaf: No Theatrical Release?

A day ahead of the scheduled May 9 release, a statement from the production house announced cancellation of the theatrical release. “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. While we were eagerly looking forward to celebrating this film with you in theaters, the spirit of the nation comes first. Jai Hind!”

That announcement came in the way of the usual eight-week window that producers and exhibitors usually agree upon for films and their theatrical and digital releases. For Bhool Chuk Maaf, PVR INOX and Maddock signed a deal on May 6 stating that Bhool Bhuk Maaf will not land online before completing eight weeks of its theatrical release, a Livemint report said. In their appeal to the court, PVR Inox alleged that the last minute change was a breach of contract.

The report quoted the court as observing that since PVR Inox promoted the film, reserved screens and offered advance booking tickets to consumers, the sudden cancellation affects the movie chain’s reputation. The court, then stayed the digital release of the film till June 16. June 16 is the date that completes the film’s eight-week window for a digital release, if it were to release in theatres on May 9.

Bhool Chuk Maaf legal war: Trade speak

Exhibitor Vishek Chauhan calls the decision to switch from theatrical to digital a pragmatic one. “The decision to release the film directly on OTT was a pragmatic one—driven by nonexistent pre-release buzz and a deteriorating geopolitical and economic climate, not by a lack of faith in theatrical exhibition. Maddock’s track record speaks volumes. In a post-COVID landscape where most production houses have struggled to deliver hits, Maddock has stood out with theatrical blockbusters like Stree 2 and Chhaava. Their commitment to cinemas is not just intact—it’s exceptional,” he wrote on social media.

Chauhan also went on to explain how a theatrical release at such times may have meant millions of dollars’ losses for the production house. On the other hand, several exhibitors and trade analysts believe the change in release platforms is a coverup of low advance booking sales.

Bhool Chuk Maaf

Directed and written by Karan Sharma, Bhool Chuk Maaf features Rajkummar Rao, Wamiqa Gabbi and Seema Pahwa in important roles. Sanjay Mishra, Zakir Hussain, Raghubir Yadav and Ishtiyak Khan also feature in the film. Irshad Kamil has penned the lyrics for the film which features music composed by Tanishq Bagchi.

Bhool Chuk Maaf is set in a small town of northern India and revolves around the lives of a love-struck couple about to get married. Their problem is that they have been trapped in a weird time loop due to which their wedding day never seems to approach.

Bhool Chuk Maaf producer Maddock Films

The production house Maddock Films have a good track record when it comes to theatrical business. They scored great numbers over the past few years with some of the biggest hits and also delivered good box office reports even for small-budget films.

Two of the biggest releases this year – Chhaava and Sky Force were produced under Maddock Films. Last year too, Maddock Films produced the top grossing Hindi film of 2024 – the horror comedy Stree 2. The banner also produced hit films such as Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and Munjya which ranked among the top-grossing films of the year.

Bhool Chuk Maaf release amid security concerns in India

Indian and Pakistan agreed to ceasefire across their borders just hours after the digital release of the film was blocked. However, just before this report was filed, Indian government confirmed that Pakistan violated the ceasefire within four hours of the announcement.

Earlier, India attacked terror camps in Pakistan in retaliation for the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Later, India claimed drone strike attempts from Pakistan on various civilian areas and military bases and said the attempts were “neutralized”.

Given the stay on the digital release of Bhool Chuk Maaf, it remains to be seen whether it sees the light of the day in theatres, online; or remains unreleased for a long period of time.

(We approached representatives of both PVR INOX and Maddock Films but neither responded to our queries till the time this was published.)