Sooryavanshi, 83 will be the first to hit the theatres after the lockdown: Reliance Entertainment Group CEO Shibashish Sarkar

With the lockdown being extended to 3 May, the continued barren patch for production houses and studios is set to continue this month. It is expected that the first films to arrive on screen post the lockdown will be Reliance Entertainment products, Sooryavanshi and 83.

Reliance Entertainment Group CEO, Shibashish Sarkar denied any reports of the films looking for a digital release and confirmed that they would be the first ones to hit the theatres in the post lockdown period. 

In an interview to the daily, Mumbai Mirror, Sarkar said, "We are wondering how and what to do if this situation continues for the next three to six months. We have seven-eight days work left on Sooryavanshi and at least a month's work of VFX on 83. Once things start functioning, the first priority will be to release these films."

Sooryavanshi was scheduled to be released on 24 March, while Kabir Khan's 83 was to be released on 10 April. However, with the lockdown firmly in place, both films were postponed.

The lockdown, which has now been extended to 3 May, has led to several films choosing a digital release, including Homi Adajania's Angrezi Medium, which was the last film to arrive before the lockdown was announced. 

However, Sarkar denied reports about releasing both films on digital platforms. He said, "No, all of us, including the actors and directors, are clear that we want to hold both films till normalcy returns and release them theatrically, since they are both big-screen experiences."

He also confirmed that once the lockdown is lifted, "83 and Sooryavanshi will be the first films to arrive."