In a dramatic turn of events, Bhool Chuk Maaf — the much-anticipated comedy starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi — is now set for a theatrical release on May 23, 2025, after nearly being pulled from cinemas at the last minute.
On May 8, producer Dinesh Vijan surprised everyone by announcing that the film would skip its theatrical release and go straight to Amazon Prime Video, citing the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict as the reason. The decision, made just a day before the scheduled release, drew strong backlash from theatre owners. Leading cinema chain PVRInox responded by filing a Rs 60 crore lawsuit against Vijan’s Maddock Films, claiming breach of contract and demanding a halt to the digital release.
But the legal clash seems to have found middle ground. A source close to the matter told Pinkvilla that the court has ruled in favor of a theatrical release. “Bhool Chuk Maaf will now hit cinemas on May 23, and Maddock Films will restart its promotional campaign from May 15,” the source confirmed.
In an unusual move, the court also allowed the film to premiere on Amazon Prime Video just two weeks later, on June 6, 2025, instead of the usual 8-week gap for Hindi films. However, insiders say this is a one-time exception and won’t change the standard OTT release timeline for other films.
The good news doesn’t end there. PVRInox has withdrawn its Rs 60 crore claim, and no damages will be paid by Maddock Films. An official joint statement from both companies is expected soon.
With the legal storm behind them, all eyes are now on Bhool Chuk Maaf as it gears up for its big-screen debut — and a quick jump to streaming not long after.
