From ‘not worried about our film clashing with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer’ to ‘releasing Gandhi Godse with Pathaan was a mistake’: Rajkumar Santoshi on his movie’s performance

Back in January 2023 when Rajkumar Santoshi was asked about his comeback film Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh clashing with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan, the veteran filmmaker had responded: “Ours is not a song-and-dance film. It is a very different film. I don’t worry about box-office clashes. I’m not worrying about who is in front of us, I’m only focusing on my film.” Cut to now, the director says that releasing Gandhi Godse – Ek Yudh with Pathaan “was a mistake”. 

Released on Republic Day, Chinmay Mandlekar and Deepak Antani starrer Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh was based on a fictional situation, where Mahatma Gandhi survives Nathuram Godse’s attack on him, and the two later meet in a prison cell to engage in what can be described as a fiery ‘vicharon ka yudh’. Although the film’s trailer had stirred up controversies, the director maintained that the film ‘sympathised with both Gandhi and Godse’. He said the period drama rather explores what would have happened if Gandhi had lived after Godse’s assassination attempt.

Also read: Exclusive! Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh’s Chinmay Mandlekar: Controversies can be created out of anything

Meanwhile, Siddharth Anand-directed Pathaan - which clocked over 1000 crores globally - was the fourth instalment in the YRF Spy Universe. The actioner also starred Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana. It follows the daredevilry of an exiled RAW agent. Released on January 25, Pathaan is hailed for reviving the industry after a lull period, following the pandemic and the emergence of OTT.   

Also read: Pathaan OTT release date: When and where to watch Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham's actioner online after its theatrical run

In a recent interview with Bollywood Hungama, when Rajkumar was asked about his decision to go for a solo release of his upcoming romantic comedy film Bad Boy - starring Mithun Chakraborty, Johnny Lever and Rajpal Yadav, alongside newbies Namashi Chakraborty and Amrin Qureshi - the filmmaker said, “Yes, releasing Gandhi Godse - Ek Yudh with Pathaan was a mistake. As for Bad Boy’s release, it has been planned by producer Sajid Qureshi. And yes this is a good release date.” Bad Boy is scheduled to be released on April 28.