Akshay Kumar: Sanjay Leela Bhansali has gone through a lot

The news of Padmaavat and Padman averting a box-office clash took everyone by surprise. Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus 'Padmaavat' has been caught in political turmoil for quite some time now. Various fringe groups have threatened Bhansali with dire consequences, if he releases the film. The movie was previously supposed to release on December 1, but due to unfavourable political conditions, the movie was delayed by a month and is set to release on January 25. However, Akshay Kumar's Padman's date was already locked on January 26, thereby making it a huge clash.

Knowing how big both the films are and how a box-office clash would eat into each other's moolah at the boz-office, Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Akshay Kumar held a press conference together. Akshay Kumar said, " My film was supposed to release on January 25 when Padmaavat is also releasing. Sanjay Leela Bhansali saab requested me today to postpone the release. He has been through a lot. A lot of money is at stake too in this film. Bhansali's need was more than mine to release on this date. Both the films could have come together on this date. But the stakes of their film are higher than ours. It is essential for them to release the film."

Padman stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role along with Radhika Apte. Sonam Kapoor has a special appearance in the film.

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