The Bombay High Court has ruled that Rajkumar Rao and Vamika Gbbi’s film Bhool Chuk Maaf cannot be released on OTT platforms. This decision comes as a relief to PVR INOX, which had signed an agreement with Maddock Films to release the film in theaters on May 9. However, Maddock Films later decided to release it directly on OTT on May 16, citing security concerns.
Court Ruling
The court found that Maddock Films breached their contract with PVR INOX by changing the release plan without a valid reason. PVR INOX had invested heavily in promoting the film, reserved screens, and had advance bookings for thousands of tickets. The agreement also included an eight-week holdback period before the film could be released on OTT.
Key Points from the Court Hearing
- PVR INOX’s lawyer argued that Maddock Films violated the agreement by releasing the film on OTT without waiting for the holdback period.
- Maddock Films’ lawyer cited security concerns as the reason for the change in plans, claiming theater release was not feasible.
- The court ruled that changing the release plan solely because it wasn’t considered profitable wasn’t justified.
The film will remain unavailable on any platform, including OTT, until the holdback period is over and the case is fully heard. The next hearing is scheduled for June 16, 2025.