Bhoot Police to get OTT release; other films could follow suit

By Rajesh Ahuja

With a continuing uncertainty over re-opening of cinema halls in the country due to the unabated second wave of COVID-19 pandemic  and the looming threat of a  third wave, an increasing number of films, including megastarrers, are gearing up for  an OTT release .

The latest film gearing up for an OTT release is the Arjun Kapoor  Saif Ali Khan Yami Gautam starrer Bhoot Police.

Trade sources say that the producers of Bhoot Police,  Tips films, are mulling an OTT release considering the unlikelihood of easing of the COVID-19 situation in the near future.

Sources said that with the Covid situation in the country showing no signs of easing, the Producers of Bhoot Police are in talks with several OTT platforms for a digital release of the film.

Bhoot Police was scheduled to hit cinema screens in September.  Makers of the film had in February announced that the film would release in theatres on September 10.

However,  with the current pandemic situation unlikely to allow reopening of cinema halls in the country soon, at least not to their full capacity, makers of Bhoot Police are mulling an OTT release of the film in September or October.

Bhoot Police to go for OTT release 

A horror comedy directed by Pavan Kirpalani and produced by Ramesh Taurani and Akshai Puri., Bhoot Police stars Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Yami Gautam and Javed Jaffrey in the lead roles.

A large portion of the film was shot in Dharamshala and Dalhousie in Himachal Pradesh . The final leg of the shooting for the film was held in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. 


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During the Shooting of the film, the lead actress Yami Gautam and lead actor Arjun Kapoor were diagnosed with Covid. They,  however,  resumed shooting after recovering from the ailment. 

The uncertainty over opening of cinema halls is leading  increasing number of filmmakers to mull an OTT release of their films.

With the less than encouraging response to Salman Khan's Radhe following its simultaneous release on various digital platforms and theatres abroad, makers of many small to medium budget films and even makers of  megastarrers, scheduled for release in cinemas in the coming months, are mulling possibility of a release on various digital platforms like Amazon Prime Video,  Netflix and Disney Hotstar.

Trade sources said that makers of mega starrer Bell Bottom,  which features Akshay Kumar,  vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi and Lara Dutta,  have also been  in talks with various digital platforms for an OTT release for the film.

They said that Pooja Entertainment of Jacky Bhagnani,  the producers of the film,  have signed a deal with Amazon Prime video for a release of the film on the platform in August.  Though Akshay Kumar,  in a statement,  said that reports of an August release of Bell Bottom are speculative,  the film is likely to release on Amazon Prime Video in August or September..

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Several films,  including megastarrers like Chehre,  Bunty Aur Babli2,  Haathi Mere Saathi,  Sooryavanshi,  Maidaan, Jersey, Satyamev Jayate 2 and 83,  are slated for theatrical release in the coming months.

If  the prevailing Covid situation in the country does not ease soon, many of these films are like witness a digital release.

An unprecedented surge in covid cases in the country in April resulted in makers of mega starrers Haathi Mere Saathi, Bunty Aur Babli2, Chehre, Sooryavanshi , Satyamev Jayate 2 and Toofan postponing release of these films till a later date.

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The grave Covid situation  adversely impacted the earnings of recently released Bollywood films Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina.

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With the theatrical release of the above films failing to attract audience  footfalls in cinema halls,  all these films have now been released on various OTT platforms.

Roohi, Mumbai Saga, Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar and Saina have been released on Amazon Prime Video in recent weeks.

Further,  the past few months have witnessed the OTT release of crime thriller Silence Can You Hear it  on ZEE5,  murder mystery The Girl On The Train and the family drama Sardar Ka Grandson on Netflix  and Radhe on ZEE5.

With continuing uncertainty  on reopening of cinema halls, the coming weeks could witness release of more films on OTT.

Trade sources said that  the makers of the Ranveer Singh starrer 83 are also in talks with various OTT platforms for a digital release of the film  in the coming months.

Makers of 83, which has been directed by Kabir Khan,  had earlier announced release of the film in cinema halls on June 4. However,  with the Covid-19 situation in the country still far away from normalcy,  the possibility of a theatrical release of the on its scheduled date is bleak.

Similarly,  other Bollywood releases like Kartik Aryan starrer Dhamaka and the Ayushmann Khurana Rakul Preet Singh starrer Doctor  G  could also go for an OTT release if situation in the country does not return to normalcy soon.

Makers of 83 and Dhamaka also mulling an OTT release of their films 

Notwithstanding the prevailing uncertainty on reopening of cinema halls,  Filmmakers have expressed hope that the magic of the big screen will be back soon.

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai said that millions of people are thriving to go back to theatres to watch their motion pictures on big screen.

'MILLIONS of people thriving to go back to their dream land CINEMA HALL To watch their motion pictures on big screen to enjoy whistles laughters n claps they can not experience at home on small screens. Magic of cinema halls will be back soon.