Thackeray producer Sanjay Raut: Not speaking to Manikarnika makers for change of release date

The makers of Cheat India have decided to release their film a week before, on 18 January, in order to avoid a clash with Thackeray on 25 January. The producers of the two films made this announcement yesterday at a joint press conference.

A member of the Shiv Sena party had threatened that no other film should clash with their film. However, Bhushan Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Atul Kasbekar and Tanuj Garg, the producers of Cheat India, said that they had taken the decision out of respect for Balasaheb Thackeray and not due to any threat. Sanjay Raut and Aditya Thackeray, key members of Shiv Sena, also asserted that they had not put any pressure on the producers of Cheat India.

However, Kangana Ranaut-starrer Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi is also slated to be released with Thackeray on 25 January. Aditya and Raut said that they were not going to speak to the film’s producers to change their release date.

Speaking at the press conference, Aditya said that Cheat India makers changed the date because they were friends. “That’s why Atul and I had a discussion 2-3 months ago. Because we are friends, this was all possible,” he said.

Raut said that they were not planning to approach the makers of Manikarnika. “I have not even thought about that. Thackeray is Thackeray. I believe the name itself is enough. Whether it’s Manikarnika or some other film, everybody has a right to release their film whenever they wish to. We have neither spoken to them nor will we,” he said.

Directed by Abhijit Panse, Thackeray is a biopic on the life of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray which will be released in Hindi and Marathi. Nawazuddin Siddiqui plays the role of Balasaheb in the film.