The year 2020 is unlikely to have any bright spot vis-a-vis theatrical earnings, as no Bollywood biggie will lighten up the 70mm screen. Kabir Khan’s '83, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, has been moved from the Christmas weekend, one of the major reasons being the new wave of Coronavirus cases globally and subsequent lockdowns. Experts opine that as cases rise again overseas, the “road to recovery has gotten even longer.”

Though the film exhibition world is looking at a topline biggie — after theatres reopening in India — insiders maintain that a big-budget project is unlikely to hit theatres domestically sans the overseas market. According to the Ficci-EY media and entertainment industry report 2020, overseas theatricals contributed a whopping ₹27 billion to Indian films last year.

Experts feel that while smaller films can manage with India-only releases and revenue streams such as TV and OTT, a big-budget film needs global earnings, too. “Since stakes are high, big-budget ventures need the overseas cushioning. And why should they forego a huge chunk?” says trade analyst Taran Adarsh.

The Coronavirus scare has hit almost the whole of Europe again, with lockdowns imposed in France, Germany, UK, Italy, etc. Malaysia, too, is seeing a shutdown of activities, including theatres. “We moved ’83 for two reasons. By the time the announcement about Maharashtra theatres reopening came in, it was too late. A four-week-long marketing window won’t be enough for such a big project,” says Shibashish Sarkar, group CEO of Reliance Entertainment (that has backed '83 and Sooryavanshi), adding that overseas markets look “very tricky” right now.

The exhibition sector, on their part, feels Indian filmmakers need to be more pragmatic, practical. As exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi puts it: “Hindi films are made primarily for desi market. Why can’t they release domestically and in certain overseas markets?”

As of now, Manoj Bajpayee-Diljit Dosanjh starrer Suraj Pe Mangal Bhari is slated to release on Diwali and Christopher Nolan’s Tenet will hit Indian shores towards the end of the month.

Not just 2020, even the early-2021 film calendar looks hazy now. While Vicky Kaushal-starrer Sardar Udham Singh isn’t going to keep its January date, there’s no clarity yet on Sooryavanshi’s release date either. Other films that were supposed to come out early next year — Haseen Dillruba, Bachchan Pandey, Jersey and Atrangi Re — have all been delayed. Among the films that are ready (in terms of complete shooting etc.) are Mumbai Saga, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Indoo Ki Jawani, to name a few.