Top Bollywood films postponed due to Omicron

There was a tremendous amount of hope that was pinned on 2022 by ambitious Indian filmmakers. Several big-budget films such as director SS Rajamouli's period epic 'RRR' and Akshay Kumar's 'Prithviraj' was supposed to set the global box-office on fire. But the fear of a new COVID-19 variant Omicron has played a dampener. Here's a list of films that have hit a few road block owing to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

RRR: Even though promotions for 'RRR' were in full swing, the makers were forced to take a tough call earlier this week. In a statement, the producers said that they were ‘left with no choice’ after several states in India imposed new restrictions to tackle COVID-19 spike in India. The makers posted an earnest statement explaining their decision: “Inspite of our relentless efforts, some situations are beyond our control. As many Indian states are closing theatres, we are left with no choice but to ask you to hold on to your excitement. We promised to bring back The Glory of Indian Cinema, and at the right time, WE WILL." This film has seen several release delays due to the ongoing pandemic. But in a recent interview with Gulf News, Rajamouli reiterated that he isn't worried about his film becoming outdated and that he had full confidence in his labour of love and passion.

Jersey: Shahid Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur's emotionally-charged drama set against the backdrop of cricket and a fading cricketer with a turbulent family life was supposed to be the last release of 2021. Even the advance bookings in the UAE cinemas for the December 30th had begun, but the makers decided to hold off on the release when they realised that states in India such as Delhi -- which were important markets for Bollywood film revenue -- were going to impose severe restrictions amid COVID-19 spike concerns. At that time, local distributor Phars Films confirmed to Gulf News that ‘Jersey’s’ release date had been pushed, but a new date was yet to be set. An email was also been sent to industry stakeholders informing them of their decision to hold back ‘Jersey’. Their statement read: “Due to the current growing pandemic concerns, the producers of the movie have decided to postpone the theatrical release until further notice. The movie was scheduled to release on 30th December 2021 internationally."

Prithviraj: This is the latest magnum opus starring Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar that will not stick to its release date of January 21, 2022. The historical drama based on the life of warrior Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan, with Kumar in the titular role, was one of the most anticipated films of this year. Just like other filmmakers who decided to adopt a wait and watch approach, the makers of 'Prithviraj' is also keen to see how things progress on the pandemic front in India and globally. An increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in India has led to the closure of cinema halls in a few states in India. So most makers are now taking on a cautious approach.

Radhe Shyam: A few days after the makers of ‘Radhe Shyam’ shot down speculative pieces about their film being postponed due to the global spike in COVID-19 cases, they seem to have changed their minds and are now reluctantly postponing the release of their much-anticipated romance. ‘Radhe Shyam’, directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, was originally scheduled to release on January 14, but has now been pushed with a new date yet to be revealed. “We have been trying our best for the past few days but considering the growing cases of omicron variant it looks like we will have to wait for our labour of love to get to the big screens,” wrote the makers of ‘Radhe Shyam’ on their Twitter. The makers also expressed their confidence that times will change and become friendlier towards theatrical releases. “Radhe Shyam is a story about love vs destiny and we are sure that your love will help us rise over these tough times together. Will see you in the cinemas soon!!” they added.

Gehraiyaan: Another film that has been hit is Deepika Padukone's upcoming film. This troubled romance will now have a new date. This movie, directed by Shakun Batra, was scheduled for a release this month but will now release on February 11.

The recent developments are likely to have a trickle-down effect on several films. Many industry insiders and experts are naturally worried about films that are all set to release in theatres being stalled. In the coming days, expect a few more films to announce its change in release dates.