After Sooryavanshi, 83 pushed to 2021

Despite the reopening of theatres in Maharashtra, which are running with 50% seating capacity, it looks like big blockbusters are shunning the big screen. Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibasish Sarkar has announced that it is unlikely that Kabir Khan's 83 will be released on Christmas 2020. 

Sarkar told the Mumbai Mirror newspaper, "Christmas is no longer a possibility as we won't be able to set up a marketing campaign within a month. Also, the overseas markets are important for both films and some of them have shut again due to the second wave of COVID." Sarkar added that the production house is eyeing the period between January and March for 83 to release the film. 

Reliance Entertainment has postponed two major blockbusters, the Akshay Kumar-starrer Sooryavanshi and Ranveer Singh-led 83, postponed because of the pandemic and lockdown. Earlier in October, the production house confirmed that Sooryavanshi would likely be postponed to 2021 instead of its earlier planned Diwali release. 

In October, Sarkar said, "We have to decide on the new date of Sooryavanshi with the director and actor, but the film should release between January and March."

Khan's film tells the story of India's maiden Cricket World Cup triumph in 1983. The film will see Singh portray the role of Kapil Dev while Deepika Padukone will play his wife, Romi Dev. The film also has an ensemble cast comprising Pankaj Tripathi, Hardy Sandhu, Saqib Saleem, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Ammy Virk. 

In the midst of the lockdown, there was speculation that Sooryavanshi and 83 would be released on an OTT platform. However, Kabir Khan and Sarkar dismissed this notion.

The Maharashtra government on Wednesday announced the reopening of theatres, multiplexes, and cinema halls after a period of seven months. These theatres will still function at 50% capacity from today.