In a shocking twist, Maddock Films’ latest offering Bhool Chuk Maaf, starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, has landed in hot water after its last-minute withdrawal from theatrical release. What was originally set to be a big-screen debut turned into a sudden OTT-only drop, a move that now has major consequences.
As we know, PVR has filed a ₹60 crore lawsuit against Maddock Films for abruptly cancelling the film’s release just a day before it was scheduled to hit cinemas. Speaking with Team Movified, renowned trade analyst Giresh Wankhede stated, “This eleventh-hour decision not only caused massive losses to exhibitors, but is also being seen as a deliberate tactic to avoid disclosing poor ticket bookings and expected low box office footfalls.”
Giresh further reveal that “Bhool Chuk Maaf was facing an underwhelming response in pre-sales, with buzz around the film fizzling out. Rather than face a weak opening and report unimpressive box office numbers, Maddock Films allegedly seized the moment, citing heightened India-Pakistan tensions to skip cinemas entirely and release directly on streaming platforms.”
Industry experts argue that the timing of the cancellation was not just unprofessional but financially damaging. With all contracts signed and shows lined up across the country, PVR Inox claims this breach of agreement left them with unrecoverable losses.
With the case now in Bombay High Court, the controversy has opened up a wider debate on the accountability of production houses and the growing trend of dodging box office scrutiny through last-minute OTT pivots.
