Director Kabir Sadanand caught unaware of his film's release

Imagine director Kabir Sadanand's shock at the release of his film 'Gollu Aur Pappu' which he was not even told about!

Last Friday, Bollywood buffs' rush at cinema ticket counters was all for the Saif Ali Khan-starrer, 'Happy Ending'. Little did they know about another film titled 'Gollu Aur Pappu' with a sound star cast hitting the marquee the same day. Director Kabir Sadanand didn't have the slightest inkling until the last minute either.

Kabir Sadanand

Kabir says he learnt about the film's release two days in advance, allowing him no time for promotions and publicity. "It is really disheartening when you and the entire unit works hard on a film and it is not released the way one would have liked it to," he adds.

Apparently, it was one of his actors who informed him about the release date having been announced in the newspapers last Wednesday. The film, which is currently showing in four theatres with a total of eight shows in Mumbai, features Dimple Kapadia, Kunal Roy Kapur, Vir Das, Shobhit Rana and Deepak Tijori.

Kabir says, "My job was to make the film and give it to them (the producers) but when the audience doesn't get to see it as it didn't have a proper release, it hurts."

An industry source says the producers of the film released it in cinemas as they will not be able to show it on satellite unless it has a theatrical release. "It has happened in the past when Himesh Reshammiya's 'Kajra Re' directed by Pooja Bhatt was released in just one theatre," the source explains.

Trade sources feel it is possible that the satellite deal of the film must have been finalised because of which the makers were in such haste to release it.

Ajit Andhare, COO of Viacom18 Motion Pictures, was not available for comment while actor Kunal says, "I'm disappointed."

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