Amitabh Bachchan has just announced Jhund’s release date as June 18. Ayushmann Khurrana’s Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui is set for July 9. Akshay Kumar’s Prithviraj, Atrangi Re, and other big-budget films all recently confirmed their release dates, proving that Bollywood is ready to emerge from the shadow cast by the pandemic.

Producer Bhushan Kumar, who has announced release dates of five films — Satyameva Jayate 2, Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Atrangi Re, Jhund and Luv Ranjan’s untitled next — says, “With producers and theatre owners supporting each other, many of us have decided to release our films in theatres. We, as a studio, and my partner producers, definitely feel it is important to release big films to get our audiences to theatres and support the industry. We will announce a few other films in the coming days.”

The trade is happy with the developments. Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja says it was time, as the South film industry has shown how releasing in theatres is safe. “When big films come, smaller and medium-budget films follow. This will have a domino effect, you can expect at least 24 films to be announced in the next week,” he says.

Pointing out why Hindi films didn’t do so sooner, he adds, “In the South, they have to take care of their region. Pan-India this takes time. They have to see whether states have opened theatres or not, as they release on more than 4,000 screens. Regional films get a 1,000 and are done, so we can’t blame Bollywood.”

Shibasish Sarkar, Reliance Entertainment, which is behind Sooryavanshi and ’83, says, “All big stars have announced their films, it basically means producers are getting the confidence that if we release films, audiences will come to theatres.”

Devang Sampat, Cinepolis India, says theatres are ready to welcome patrons with this barrage of releases. “It was always a matter of who will take the first step, and after seeing what happened in the South, where big-budget films like Master, and even small budget films did well. The latter was not expected, and the numbers were encouraging,” he says.

Echoing similar sentiments is Rajender Jyala, INOX Leisure, who says, “We are ready and complying with all standard operating procedures given by the central and state governments. Today, barring Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Kerala, all states are operating at 100% capacity. We are happy and excited for 2021 now.”

Roohi: March 11

Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar: March 19

Sooryavanshi: April 2

Bunty Aur Babli 2: April 23

Bellbottom: May 28

’83: June 4

Jhund: June 18

Shamshera: June 25

Shershaah: July 2

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui: July 9

Atrangi Re: August 6

Jayeshbhai Jordaar: August 27

Prithviraj: November 5