Recent reports indicate uncertainty surrounding the release of "Chakda Xpress," the biopic on Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami starring Anushka Sharma. The film, which was intended to mark Anushka Sharma's comeback after a hiatus following her 2018 film "Zero," has faced delays, leaving its future unclear.
Dibyendu Bhattacharya, who plays a coach in "Chakda Xpress," has expressed his disappointment over the film's uncertain status. In an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Bhattacharya stated that he believes "it's a very well-made film" and that Anushka Sharma has delivered one of her best performances in it. He added that he is unsure when or if the film will be released and hasn't received any updates from the filmmakers.
Bhattacharya emphasized the importance of the film being released, noting that it has a "brilliant subject" and "brilliant performances". He expressed his desire to understand the reasons behind the delay, hoping it wasn't due to censor board issues, lack of available screens, or struggles in finding a market. He reiterated that the film deserves to be shared with audiences.
"Chakda Xpress" was initially slated for a Netflix release in October 2023. However, reports suggest that a fallout between Netflix and Clean Slate Filmz, Anushka Sharma's production house, is the primary reason for the delay. While the exact reasons for the fallout remain unconfirmed, rumors point to "creative disagreements" and "budgetary issues".
Adding to the uncertainty, Jhulan Goswami herself has stated that she has no news regarding the film's release. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Goswami said, "Mereko aisa koi news nahi hai (I don't have any such news), aur call mujhe kar rahe sab! Mujhe koi comment nai karna". This indicates that even the subject of the biopic is in the dark about its future.
Manas Mittal, the film's editor, revealed that "Chakda Xpress" was supposed to be released before the World Cup in 2023, but the release was stalled. He noted that he realized the film was not coming out when he didn't hear back from the team by mid-September and no promotional strategy was in place. Since then, there has been "total silence".
The film had a difficult journey from the start. The first schedule was written in April 2020, but the COVID-19 lockdown disrupted those plans. During the lockdown, Anushka Sharma announced her pregnancy, the film's initial producer withdrew from the project, and the director, Prosit Roy, became involved with other projects.
"Chakda Xpress" is directed by Prosit Roy and produced by Anushka Sharma's brother, Karnesh Sharma. The film began shooting in June 2022 and was completed by December 2022. Dibyendu Bhattacharya joined the cast to play Anushka Sharma's coach.
Despite the challenges and uncertainty, Dibyendu Bhattacharya remains hopeful that "Chakda Xpress" will eventually be released. He believes that the film is well-made and deserves to be seen by audiences.