The Bombay High Court (HC) in its court order dated May 10 said that it has put a stay on the release of Hindi language film Bhool Chuk Maaf staring Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi after its makers Maddock Films' Dinesh Vijan skipped the theatrical release and took the film to streaming platform Amazon Prime Video.
The Court granted an ad-interim injunction restraining Maddock Films from releasing the film Bhool Chuk Maaf on OTT (over the top) platforms before completing an 8-week theatrical window agreed with PVR Inox. The court held that Maddock's cancellation of the theatrical release, citing security concerns and commercial reasons, was a breach of contract.
The injunction prevents release on any platform until the expiry of the holdback period, with the next hearing scheduled for June 16.
While the film was supposed to release on May 9, Maddock Films in a tweet on May 8 said that it will take the direct to streaming route due to the rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
"In light of recent events and the heightened security drills across the nation, we at Maddock Films and Amazon MGM Studios have decided to bring our family entertainer, Bhool Chuk Maaf, directly to your homes on May 16—only on Prime Video, worldwide,” Maddock Films statement read.
On the grounds of breach of contract, PVR Inox took moved the matter for urgent ad interim relief. The multiplex's counsel said that the urgency was on account of the fact that Maddock Films had terminated the agreement dated May 6, 2025 by which Maddock had agreed to release the film Bhool Chuk Maaf in theatres of PVR Inox in India on May 9, 2025.
The counsel added that Maddock had expressly and unconditionally agreed that the film would be released in India on May 9 and that they would keep a minimum 8-week holdback from the first theatrical release date in India till the release of the film on any of the OTT platforms mentioned in the agreement.
PVR Inox's counsel said that the multiplex had been promoting the film through social media platforms since March 26, arch gate standees since April 24, and video walls in theatres since May 1 and other various modes. It was also submitted that the multiplex had blocked its screens nationwide for the scheduled screenings and had also received thousands of advance bookings from customers across the country.
Maddock Films’ counsel argued that the company had decided not to release the film in theatres in view of the heightened security presently prevalent across the nation and in particular in the northern part of the country.
The counsel submitted that considering the present environment, a theatrical launch of the film would not be commercially prudent and would result in a significant loss of revenue to the producers of the film which is why Maddock had decided not to release the film in theatres and release the film only on the OTT platform.
The court said that after hearing counsel for the respective parties it is satisfied that PVR Inox has more than made out a case for the grant of ad interim relief.
PVR Inox is also seeking Rs 60 crore in damages charges, according to reports.
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