The Hindi film industry is bracing for a major reshuffle in its release calendar as tensions between India and Pakistan intensify. According to trade sources, several upcoming Bollywood films—particularly those slated for release this month—are likely to be postponed in response to the somber national mood and prevailing uncertainty.

Maddock Films has already led the way by canceling the theatrical release of Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi starrer ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf.’ The film will now premiere directly on Amazon Prime Video on May 16, skipping the theatrical window altogether. Pulkit Samrat and Isabelle Kaif starrer ‘Suswagatam Khushaamadeed’ (May 16) and Sonakshi Sinha’s ‘Nikita Roy’ (May 30) are also expected to delay their releases, while the promotional campaign for ‘Kesari Veer’ has also stalled, with the film’s expected release on May 23 now seeming doubtful. 

“In times like these, the nation’s mood shifts. Audiences aren’t in the mindset to celebrate, and cinema is no exception. People hesitate to step out and watch a film when the country is on edge. Filmmakers are aware of this and are choosing to delay releases until the situation stabilizes,” a trade source told us.

Although no formal announcements regarding postponements of release—aside from Bhool Chuk Maaf—have been made yet, producers are closely monitoring the unfolding geopolitical situation and evaluating their release strategies. The continued strong performance of Ajay Devgn’s ‘Raid 2’ surely offers some optimism that content-driven films may still find an audience in theatres. However, the uncertainty surrounding the conflict has left filmmakers wary of risking financial losses, leading many to prioritize caution over immediate releases. 

This ongoing conflict, however, is unlikely to affect the Hollywood releases. Tom Cruise's most-anticipated ‘Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning,’ (May 17) ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines,’ (May 16) and ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ (May 30) will release as per schedule.

Akshay Kumar’s ‘Housefull 5’ and Aamir Khan’s ‘Sitare Zameen Par,’ which release in theatres on June 5 and June 20, respectively, also remain on track, though promotional activities for both have been temporarily paused. The trade insiders are optimistic that the situation will improve in the coming weeks, but if it worsens, there could be more rejigging in the release calendar.

In addition to the release changes, the Hindi film industry is expected to see potential disruption in production as well. Although no shooting delays are reported yet, concerns over a potential full-scale war have raised fears of production halts across the country. “The India-Pakistan conflict has not yet significantly impacted the industry—yet,” the trade source concluded. “No major Hindi films are scheduled to release in May, and shootings in Mumbai are going on as usual. But uncertainty is there, and filmmakers are closely watching the situation to determine their next steps. The whole industry is in a wait-and-watch mode, hoping the situation de-escalates quickly. War, after all, is a bad business for everyone.”