Controversy effect: Padmavati release leaves Bollywood jittery and in quandary

And now, as the buzz of Padmavati finally releasing in January or February grows louder, makers of movies releasing around the time are in a quandary. What if Padmavati releases around the same time as their movie? “It’s a difficult situation,” sighs a trade source. “Given the curiosity the film has generated and the publicity it has had in recent times, Padmavati will not face any opposition when it releases. Not even if it clashes with a Khan film. There was a buzz the movie might release around January 12, but Saif Ali Khan’s Kaalakaandi and Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz are now fixed for those dates. The makers too expect trouble if Padmavati releases around those dates.”

The source adds, “Akshay Kumar’s Padman and Neeraj Pandey’s Aiyaary, with Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee are expected around Republic Day, followed by Sony Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Hichki, Parmanu — The Story of Pokhran, and Anushka Sharma’s Pari.”

With the sword of Allaudin Khilji hanging over them now, however, these filmmakers are awaiting Padmavati’s release date.