Lasyapriya Sundaram (BOMBAY TIMES; February 10, 2018)

The Saqib Saleem and Taapsee Pannu-starrer Dil Juunglee, that was slated to release on February 16 along with Aiyaary, which features Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee, will now avoid the clash and hit the screens on March 23.

Talking about the musical chairs that films have had to play, with regards to release dates since Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat released on January 26, Jayantilal Gada, one of the producers of Aiyaary, told BT, “Aiyaary was all set to release on Republic Day. However, when the makers of Padmaavat announced their release date as January 26, we respected the decision and changed our release date to February 9. Then, the makers of Pad Man shifted their release date to February 9 to avoid the clash with Padmaavat. Even though Aiyaary was scheduled to release on February 9, there was a delay in getting a clearance from the Central Board Of Film Certification (CBFC). We got the certificate only on February 6 and that’s why we had to change our date of release to February 16. Neeraj Pandey (director of Aiyaary) and I requested Vashu Bhagnani (producer of Dil Juunglee, which was also scheduled to release on February 16), to move their release date forward. It was a mutual decision.” Neeraj added, “In this industry, it is crucial to help each other. We appreciate that Vashuji has decided to move the release of Dil Juunglee. All films need the right space in theatres to flourish and nobody understands and appreciates that more than filmmakers.”

According to Vashu Bhagnani, it’s easier for individual producers to make changes in the release dates of films, as opposed to bigger studios, which involve a large number of decision-makers. He said, “Nowadays, there are fewer individual producers. For us, it is easier to pick up the phone and speak to each other and come to a decision. Corporate studios don’t have the authority to make such decisions. When two films release on the same day, the damage is borne by both. A producer should be able to have a solo release, because the effort put into making a film is huge. Dates have to be announced beforehand because that’s how the business works, but if the dates can be adjusted, then it benefits everybody. Since I have cooperated with the producers of Aiyaary, it will benefit me in the future. Aiyaary has already had to change the date twice, so it’s only fair that I change the date of my film to avoid the clash.”

Jayantilal Gada added, “Considering there are only 52 weeks in a year and the minimum number of films releasing is close to 200, if it is possible to adjust dates for your friends from the industry, you should do it. As a businessman I look at this as a part of trade, but why should creative people involved in the process of filmmaking fall prey to this date conundrum? I believe that even in the future, producers will help each other.”