SAG strike: Deepika Padukone’s Project K launch could be pushed; Alia Bhatt’s Heart of Stone promotions called off, reports

Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt

On Friday, the creative community's fight for change in Hollywood got stronger. At the stroke of midnight on July 14, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) began their strike, joining the Writers Guild of America that has been on strike since early May. It is for the first time in 63 years that the two unions have simultaneously gone on strike, to protest against the studios over wages, AI technology, and division of profits in the streaming era.

With this move, production on current and future projects has shut down. In a detailed e-mail, SAG-AFTRA has requested its members to refrain from shooting. Guidelines also mention that they are not to engage in promotional events, or make public appearances for any project. Closer home, its effect can be felt on two of Bollywood's biggest stars, Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt.

Padukone is currently in San Diego to launch the first look of Project K on July 20. Considering the Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Padukone-starrer is an ambitious sci-fi tale, director Nag Ashwin was to begin the film's journey at Comic Con, thus tapping into the market of fantasy film lovers and ensuring a global reach. However, a source reveals, "Events like the San Diego Comic-Con will be impacted as Hollywood actors will not take part in them. The Project K team might push the launch, as a mark of solidarity with the creative community in the West." However, as per the comic con schedule, the Project K event is still on the slate.

The promotions for Heart of Stone, which marks Bhatt's Hollywood debut, has also been impacted. Ahead of its August 11 release, the stars of the Netflix film - Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan and Bhatt - were to do extensive promotions in Los Angeles. "Alia was to head out to Los Angeles this week to kick off the promotions. Now, it has been put on hold. She will focus on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani's promotions over the next fortnight," says a source.

Meanwhile, there is uncertainty on the release of Ali Fazal's next, Afghan Dreamers. The actor wrapped up the shoot of Bill Guttentag's directorial venture earlier this year. A source says, "While it is originally lined up for a year-end release, it could be pushed to early 2024, depending on how the industry is able to mitigate the strike." The strike has been supported by Hollywood heavyweights, including the cast of Oppenheimer, which walked out of the film's London première on Thursday night in a show of solidarity.