Coronavirus strikes Bollywood films, awards ceremonies

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar: Directed by Dibakar Banerjee and produced by Yash Raj Films, this film starring Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor was scheduled to release on March 19 in the UAE cinemas and a day later in India. But due to Covid-19 health scare, the makers have decided to postpone its release. It’s Chopra and Kapoor’s third collaboration after their 2012 debut Ishaaqzaade and 2018 romantic comedy Namaste England.

Angrezi Medium: Starring Irrfan Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Radhika Madan, Angrezi Medium was billed as Khan’s brilliant comeback into films after his ongoing fight with cancer. It released last Thursday on March 13 and garnered glowing reviews and was hailed for Khan’s superb acting, but the film wasn’t allowed to gather steam as cinemas in the UAE and India were abruptly closed. Director Homi Adjania took to Twitter to announce that he will re-release his labour of love again when “it’s safe” in India. “At midnight all theatres will close across India till the authorities give us further notice. We will release #Angrezi Medium when it is safe to do so.”, adding the hashtag #Johaisohai which means ‘It is what it is”.

Sooryavanshi: Starring Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Katrina Kaif, this was director Rohit Shetty’s much-anticipated cop drama with high-octane stunts. But the makers, Reliance Entertainment, chose to postpone their film, scheduled to release on March 24, indefinitely.

Salman Khan’s filming of Radhe: Bollywood superstar plays an indestructible hero in most of his films, but Khan has adopted a cautionary approach as he halts the filming of Radhe: The Most Wanted Bhai directed by Prabhu Deva. They were supposed to film in Azerbaijaan and it was slated to be an Eid festive release.

Jersey: Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor announced on Twitter that he has cancelled the filming of his sports drama ‘Jersey’ in which he plays a failed cricketer. “At a time like this it is our social responsibility to do everything in our capacity to curb the spread of this virus. Team #Jersey is suspending shoot so as to enable all unit members to be with their families and in the safety of their homes. Be responsible. Stay safe,” Kapoor posted on Twitter. The movie was scheduled to release in August.

Sir: Tilotima Sharma’s film ‘Sir’ was scheduled to open in Indian cinemas on March 20th, but it has been postponed to a later date.

Pon Magal Vandhal: Scheduled for March 27, this South Indian film starring Jyothika was postponed indefinitely.

Bollywood award ceremonies postponed: International Indian Film Academy Awards 2020, dubbed as Bollywood Oscars, which was scheduled to take place in the last week of March in Madhya Pradesh has been postponed. For the first time in the history of Zee Cine Awards, the ceremony was filmed without a ticketed audience in Mumbai this weekend. Ranveer Singh and Taapsee Pannu won big on the Zee awards front, but there was no audience cheering them on.