Akshay Kumar-starrer cop drama “Sooryavanshi” is set to open worldwide theatrically on Diwali, director Rohit Shetty announced on Saturday. The 48-year-old director took to social media to share the new release date of the film hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced the reopening of cinema halls in the state from October 22.
“Thanks to our Honourable Chief Minister, Shri Uddhav Thackeray, theatres in Maharashtra to reopen from 22nd October. And FINALLY!!! we can say, This DIWALI…AA RAHI HAI POLICE…,” Shetty wrote.
With this, Sooryavanshi will face a box-office clash with Eternals. Earlier this month, Disney had announced that the superhero movie will be released worldwide in theaters on November 5. Eternals features Salma Hayek, Angelina Jolie and Richard Madden. Diwali falls on November 4 this year.
After initially being slated for a March 2020 release, Sooryavanshi had to be postponed following the pandemic outbreak early last year. A Diwali 2020 release was also planned but could not be materialised. Another release date, April 30, 2021, could also not be kept because of various Covid-19 related restrictions across the country.
After Akshay Kumar’s BellBottom hit theaters in July and had a dismal show at the box office, distributors and exhibitors had been urging Maharashtra government to reopen cinemas. The state forms a major portion of box office collection for Hindi films in the country. On Saturday, a delegation of filmmakers and theatre owners including Shetty met Thackeray to discuss the reopening of cinema halls across Maharashtra.
