Janhvi’s Gunjan Saxena, Ananya-Ishaan’s Khaali Peeli Acquired By Netflix; Makers To Go For Direct OTT Release

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, theatres across the nation were shut down and as a result, release dates of many upcoming films were postponed indefinitely. While things in the country are slowly getting better thanks to the lockdown and social-distancing, most of us are still not sure when our lives will go back to being ‘normal’. In such a situation, many filmmakers are opting for direct release on digital platforms. Janhvi Kapoor’s Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Ananya Panday-Ishaan Khatter starrer Khaali Peeli seem to be heading the same way.

It was earlier reported that Zee, the co-producer of both the films, will be releasing the much-awaited projects on its own OTT platform. However, the latest report in Bollywood Hungama reveals that Netflix has acquired the films. A source was quoted saying, “As of now, the streaming giant Netflix has acquired both films. So yes, both films, Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Khaali Peeli will release on Netflix directly.”

The report further states that it was a decision taken by Zee to sell the rights of Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Khaali Peeli to Neflix for a direct OTT release. The source went on to add that the lockdown period will take some time to end and even after that it will take a few more months to get the audience to theatres, as many would prefer to continue practicing social-distancing. “Therefore, the makers of both the films decided it was financially more viable and economic for a direct OTT release.”

Gunjan Saxena’s biopic was slated to hit theatres on 24^th April, whereas Khaali Peeli was scheduled to release on 12^th June.