Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan release postponed to 13 August next year

The Ajay Devgn-starrer Maidaan has a new release date. The film, which was supposed to be released on 11 December this year, will now be released on 13 August next year as an Independence Day feature.

The country has been in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic since mid-March and a complete countrywide lockdown was imposed on 25 March which ended last month, but cinema halls continue to remain shut and there is no clarity when they may be allowed to reopen.

With the COVID-19 cases growing rapidly and the country close to the 700,000 mark and about to take third spot as the worst affected after the United States and Brazil, and the toll nearly 20,000, it may be a while before large congregations of any kind are allowed.

Earlier this week, Rohit Shetty's Sooryavanshi and Kabir Khan's 83 booked two major festivals later in the year, Diwali and Christmas, respectively, for their release. But that is contingent on how the scenario unfolds in the next few months.

Recently, OTT (over-the-top) platform Disney+ Hotstar announced the premieres of as many as seven films online with uncertainty continuing to envelop cinema halls. The list included Devgn-starrer Bhuj: The Pride Of India.

Maidaan is based on the life of independent India's first national football coach Syed Abdul Rahim, who changed the face of Indian football in the 1950s and 1960s. Devgn will be essaying Rahim's character. The film also stars Priyamani, Gajraj Rao and Bengali actor Rudranil Rao.

Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, the film is produced by Zee Studios, Boney Kapoor, Akash Chawla and Arunava Joy.