The string of film release announcements following Maharashtra government’s decision to re-open theatres from October 22, continues. On Thursday, the makers of Alia Bhatt-starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi and Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan announced the release dates of their respective films.
While Gangubai Kathiawadi is set to hit theatres on January 6, 2022, Maidaan will be a summer release on June 6. Both films were earlier scheduled to release this year, but were pushed due to the ongoing pandemic. While Bhatt’s film was supposed to arrive in theatres on July 30, 2021, Maidaan was set to open on August 15.
Although reports had earlier stated that the makers of both films might opt for a direct OTT release, Pen Studios and Zee Studios had denied the rumours and confirmed that they would be theatrical releases.
Based on the golden years of Indian football, Maidaan will see Devgn as Syed Abdul Rahim, who served as a coach and manager of the Indian football team from 1950 until his death in 1963. Directed by Amit Ravindernath Sharma, the film also features Priyamani, Gajraj Rao, and Rudranil Ghosh. It will release in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam.
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Gangubai Kathiawadi, on the other hand, is based on one of the chapters of Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges’ book, Mafia Queens of Mumbai, a collection of stories about women who were part of Mumbai’s underworld. Bhatt will be seen as Gangubai Kathiawadi, one of the most influential women in Kamathipura, a red-light district in Mumbai, and owner of many brothels in the area.
The film is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and it marks Bhatt’s first collaboration with the director.
Earlier, several producers and actors had also announced the release dates of their films post the news of theatres in Maharashtra reopening next month. Rohit Shetty’s directorial Sooryavanshi, which will see Devgn in a cameo role, was the first film to reveal its release date after the announcement from the Maharashtra government.