Exclusive: Showcasing on Hold for Bobby Deol’s ‘Bandar’ in National Multiplex Chains Amid Screen-Sharing War
The June 5 box office corridor has turned into a massive warzone for theater screens. Following reports of delays for Scary Movie and severe screen-sharing issues for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, Peddi (Hindi), and He-Man, it has now been exclusively learned that the Bobby Deol-starrer Bandar is facing identical roadblocks.
Frustrated by “unfair” show allocations, distributor Zee Studios has officially put the film’s programming on hold across major national multiplex chains like PVR Inox and Cinepolis.
The Disagreement: A “Fair Ask” Denied
Insiders reveal that the conflict stems from corporate favoritism, as national chains hold distribution stakes in competing films. PVR Inox and Cinepolis are distributing Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, while PVR is co-distributing Peddi for Jio Studios.
As a result, Bandar was reportedly sidelined despite having a highly conservative and realistic showcasing request.
The Targeted Release Strategy: Rather than demanding a massive screen footprint, the Bandar team requested a modest 4 shows in 5-screen multiplexes and 3 shows in 4-screen multiplexes, specifically tracking prime slots post 1 PM to target their core audience.
Taking a Firm Stance Against Underwhelming Competition
The makers of Bandar refused to back down, ordering multiplexes to freeze their ticket bookings until the issue is resolved. The team believes they hold the leverage, especially since advance ticket sales for competing films like Peddi and Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai have trended lower than expected.
Official Statement from Zee Studios
Girish Johar, the Distribution & Revenue Head at Zee Studios, confirmed the ongoing negotiations to the media:
Our task is very fair… We had requested cinemas across the country to give us 3-4 shows in 5 screens post 1 PM. The duration of the film is also not very long either (130 minutes).” “We are aware that there is a heavy rush of releases this week. That is why we didn’t go for a wide release. The plexes are still working on it and the back-and-forth is still going on.” “We plan to release in 500-600 screens. It’s a smart release strategy. We want to build upon the word of mouth and then increase showcasing, as we believe the film will have long legs at the box office.”
Whether the national multiplex chains buckle under the pressure and grant Bandar its desired afternoon slots remains to be seen as the zero-hour approaches for the June 5 release.
