Will wait out the COVID-19 spike to release Chehre on the big screen: Anand Pandit

Producer Anand Pandit confirmed that Rumy Jafry's thriller, Chehre, will be released in theatres after the current COVID-19 wave subsides.

The film, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi, was scheduled to be released in theatres on 9 April.

Pandit said, "The film has created so much buzz because of its star cast, its stunning international locations, and an obviously dramatic and suspenseful theme. We have been approached by OTT platforms that want to stream Chehre with a grand, publicity-fuelled premiere, but this is a larger-than-life film that merits the silver screen. That is why I would like to wait out the current COVID crisis to give the film the theatrical release it deserves. I am a patient man and an optimist as well!"

Chehre is among several films that have had to be postponed or delayed owing to the second wave of the COVID-19 infections across India.

The producer told Cinestaan.com that these are difficult times and the industry needs to come together. "Everything has gone haywire, whether it is shooting schedules, film production, post-production," Pandit said. "Looking at the situation, particularly the way it [the number of cases] is increasing almost everywhere, I don't think it will settle down before a couple of months."

This is the second major shutdown for the film industry in Maharashtra, following the first countrywide lockdown that was imposed late in March 2020. Theatres and film shootings are expected to remain shut till 30 April at least.

Chehre is produced by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Saraswati Entertainment Pvt Ltd. The film features Amitabh Bachchan, Emraan Hashmi, Annu Kapoor, Raghuvir Yadav, Dhritiman Chatterjee, Krystle D'Souza and Rhea Chakraborty.