Bhool Chuk Maaf skips direct OTT debut after breach-of-contract row; new theatrical premiere scheduled for May 23

In a dramatic turn of events, Bhool Chuk Maaf, the much-anticipated comedy featuring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, will now hit the big screens after all. The decision comes in the wake of a legal battle between PVR Inox and Maddock Films, which erupted following the producers¡¯ abrupt move to cancel the film¡¯s theatrical release just a day before its planned debut on May 9, 2025.

What was the Bhool Chuk Maaf controversy?

The controversy began when Dinesh Vijan, head of Maddock Films, announced on May 8 that the film would skip theatres and premiere directly on Amazon Prime Video on May 16. The decision was officially attributed to ¡°heightened national security concerns¡± amid the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict. However, major exhibitors, including PVR Inox, alleged breach of contract and financial sabotage, prompting immediate legal action.

As previously reported, the Bombay High Court granted ad-interim relief to PVR Inox on May 9, restraining Maddock from releasing Bhool Chuk Maaf on any digital or non-theatrical platform for at least eight weeks after its first theatrical screening, honouring the terms of their original agreement dated May 6. Justice Arif S Doctor held that commercial convenience could not justify violating a binding contract, especially in the absence of any official government order mandating cinema closures.

The court also dismissed Maddock¡¯s arguments about copyright control and force majeure, stating that no such clause existed in the agreement.

Bhool Chuk Maaf returns to theatres

Now, Bhool Chuk Maaf is officially back on the theatrical release calendar in a development that signals a compromise between the two parties. A Pinkvilla report confirmed that the film will now release in cinemas on May 23, 2025, two weeks later than originally scheduled. Maddock Films is expected to resume promotional activities starting May 15, relaunching its marketing campaign to align with the new date.

What¡¯s particularly noteworthy is the updated OTT window. While most Hindi films observe an eight-week holdback period before heading to streaming platforms, Bhool Chuk Maaf is planning to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on June 6, 2025, just two weeks after its theatrical release. According to the same report, this exception was granted by the court as part of a balanced resolution, although it does not set a precedent for other films, which will still be bound by the standard 8-week window.

An official announcement from both Maddock Films and PVR Inox is expected soon, but it has been confirmed that PVR Inox has withdrawn its Rs 60 crore damages claim. The move indicates a mutual desire to avoid further confrontation and restore industry harmony, especially considering PVR¡¯s past distribution partnerships with Maddock on films like Stree 2 and Sky Force.

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