Why "Big Films" usually are seen missing their actual release dates

Time of India

16-06-2025

Picture Credit: X
Hearing a highly anticipated film getting delayed is not the thing a cinephile is happy about, nowadays it's like a trend of big films' release dates getting stretched. We have seen multiple films, and particularly some mega films getting delayed so often now as if when the makers announce the release day of the film, one has to be sure that they might get another date.
Time and again, films like 'The Raja Saab', 'Kingdom', 'Vishwambhara', 'Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups' and many more films have stumbled on their path to the big screen, with release dates being pushed back, sometimes multiple times.
Big budget films
In today's pan-India movie culture, regional movies are not just confined to regional markets. They are celebrated in the entire country and many parts of the world. These films are being made on a budget of around Rs 300 to Rs 600 crore or more and filmmakers aim for international-level VFX, multilingual shoots, and global storytelling.
But such scale brings complex logistical nightmares.
Taking the example of 2024's mythological sci-fi film, 'Kalki 2898', the film was set for 9 May 2024 release, however, it was postponed due to incomplete post-production, then again because of the national elections and finally was released on 27 June 2024. Director Nag Ashwin had to balance high VFX demands with festival-launch windows and India's busy political calendar.
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The Hindu mythological film which was blended with the dystopian sci-fi required extensive post-production work, including visual effects for its futuristic setting and the creation of a unique AI humanoid vehicle, "Bujji.
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Similarly, 'Game Changer', directed by Shankar, the movie had been in the making for around three years and had multiple scheduling hurdles involving Ram Charan, Shankar's commitments. Superstars juggling multiple projects, including pan-India, Bollywood cameos, and other events can also lead to a film missing its initial release date.
Even trailer launches or promotional schedules force shifts. The movie was further delayed due to director Shankar's commitments towards other projects, which as the Kamal Haasan starrer 'Indian 2' required more time and effort were needed.
Extensive work in the making
Speaking of one of the biggest films of 2024, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule', directed by Sukumar, was initially announced for an August 15, 2024, release but was postponed to December 6, 2024.
The sequel to the 2021 blockbuster 'Pushpa: The Rise' demanded a larger canvas, with Sukumar promising a "bigger and better film" that required more attention to detail. The production team faced challenges in coordinating massive action sequences and ensuring the film lived up to the hype the prequel of the film had instilled in the viewer's mind.
In these mega films, a lot of time is given to the film's post-production.
Delays come up once the editing, sound design, VFX, colour grading, and certification cycle of the film begins and sometimes can also take more time than the days the principal shooting went on. Taking, 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' example, the film saw a three-month leap from August 15 to December 6, 2024, with makers citing incomplete shooting and post-production work.
Later, even the "Reloaded" extended version scheduled for January 11, 2025, was pushed to January 17 due to content-processing delays.
Unforeseen injuries
As all these mega films heavily rely on the lead actor of the film, injuries to key cast members also contribute to delays. For 'Kalki 2898 AD', Amitabh Bachchan's rib injury in March 2023 halted production, as he was advised to rest in Mumbai. Similarly, Prabhas's knee surgery in 2022 delayed both 'Kalki 2898 AD' and 'Salaar', pushing back their schedules significantly. Prabhas recent injury also delayed the shooting of his upcoming films such as 'The Raja Saab' and a film with director Hanu Raghavapudi.
High expectations
At the same time after giving superhits and earning recognition worldwide, there's pressure on the actor and director to appeal to audiences across India and have a hold in the world audience.
Jr NTR's last film, 'Devara: Part 1,' directed by Koratala Siva and starring was initially set for an April 5, 2024, release but was postponed to September 27, 2024, to accommodate an extended underwater action sequence and ensure the film matched the scale of Jr.
NTR's previous hit, 'RRR'. Koratala Siva's focus on delivering a visually spectacular experience necessitated additional time for post-production and reshoots in Hindi to enhance its pan-India appeal.
'Vishwambhara', a fantasy entertainer directed by Vasshista and starring Chiranjeevi, faced delays due to its ambitious mythical realm, complete with unique creatures. The teaser alone generated mixed reactions, which made the team refine the film further to address audience concerns.
The film's release was adjusted to avoid clashing with 'Game Changer' during the Sankranti festival in 2025.
Another factor includes marketing a film. Misalignments between promo drop schedules and final product delivery can force last-minute postponements.
Ultimately, the delays in mega-films are due to the film's ambitious visions, some external disruptions and the pressure to deliver blockbusters that get appreciated by ever-changing audience preference to watch cinema.