Akshay Kumar and Manushi Chhillar starrer Prithviraj postponed

The release of Akshay Kumar's next film, Prithviraj, which was scheduled for January 21, 2022, has been postponed due to Omicron and an increase in COVID-19 cases in India.

A source told IANS that when you have a surefire blockbuster on hand that will appeal to audiences across the country, you can't gamble with such a huge product. 

The source also shared that Prithviraj will significantly aid in bringing people back to the theaters, and it cannot be released at a time when it will not accomplish this goal. The source also revealed that it doesn't make business sense to compromise on a film that will make money at the box office.

They further said that it's a no-brainer to postpone the film and assess Omicron and the COVID-19 scenario before making a decision on the film's next release date.

The source added that YRF waited until the last minute to see if the situation in India and abroad improved, but the rate at which coronavirus cases are increasing forced their hand to keep the biggest title.

According to the source, everyone is expecting Prithviraj to take the box office by storm and set some new records in the post-pandemic era, and YRF is confident in this prediction. The production house will abandon this project once it has the potential to set the box office on fire.

Former Miss World Manushi Chhillar will make her film debut in Prithviraj, directed by Chandraprakash Dwivedi. The period drama also features Sanjay Dutt as the main antagonist and Sonu Sood in a supporting role.

Meanwhile, Akshay's last theatrical outing was Sooryavanshi, directed by Rohit Shetty. The film opened in theatres in India after a long break due to the second wave of coronavirus. The actor was last seen in Aanand L Rai's Atrangi Re, which is a Disney+ Hotstar release.