National multiplex chain PVR Inox has filed a lawsuit against producer Dinesh Vijan's Maddock Films for a reported Rs 60 crore, following the cancellation of the theatrical release of Vijan's upcoming film, ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’. The Bombay High Court has reportedly stayed the OTT release of the film.
‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’, a romantic comedy starring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, was initially scheduled for a theatrical release on May 9, 2025. However, just a day before, Maddock Films and Amazon Prime Video jointly announced that the film would instead premiere directly on Amazon Prime Video on May 16, 2025. The stated reason for this last-minute change was the "recent events and the heightened security drills across the nation," alluding to escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
PVR Inox, however, alleges that the decision to bypass theaters was due to poor advance bookings. The multiplex chain claims that Maddock Films' sudden withdrawal from their contractual agreement has resulted in substantial financial losses, leading them to seek damages of Rs 60 crore. PVR Inox argues that the allocated show slots for ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’ could have been used for other films, thus mitigating their losses. They accuse Maddock Films of breach of contract, as all agreements were reportedly signed before the abrupt cancellation.
According to reports, PVR Inox is not only seeking financial compensation but also specific performance of the contract, meaning they want the court to order Dinesh Vijan to release the film theatrically before making it available on OTT. The multiplex chain also seems to want to ensure that no other producer adopts the same strategy.
Maddock Films is yet to release an official statement addressing the lawsuit. However, in their initial announcement regarding the direct-to-OTT release, the production house emphasized that "the spirit of the nation comes first," suggesting that national security concerns were the primary driver behind their decision. Some reports suggest that Maddock Films may invoke the "force majeure" clause, citing unforeseen circumstances that prevented them from fulfilling their contractual obligations. However, PVR Inox seems to be arguing that war had not formally been declared between India and Pakistan at the time of the cancellation.
The Bombay High Court heard the case on May 9, 2025, and has reserved its orders for May 12. In the meantime, the court has granted PVR Inox relief by restraining the OTT release of ‘Bhool Chuk Maaf’. It remains to be seen whether the court will ultimately award damages to PVR Inox and, if so, the amount. The legal battle raises important questions about contractual obligations, the impact of geopolitical events on the entertainment industry, and the increasingly complex relationship between theatrical releases and OTT platforms.
