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Sunny Deol Pushes for Theatrical Release of 'Gabru' Over OTT Plans

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol is keen on a theatrical release for his upcoming action-drama 'Gabru', despite initial plans for an OTT premiere. He was reportedly urged by directors Abbas Mustan to take the film to cinemas after screenings. The film, with a budget of Rs 45-50 crore, was rescheduled to May 2026 to avoid box office clashes with other major releases. It features a character-driven narrative focusing on courage and resilience, starring Simran Bagga and Prit Kamani.

Key Points: Sunny Deol Wants Theatrical Release for 'Gabru' Film

  • Sunny Deol advocates for theatrical run
  • Urged by directors Abbas Mustan
  • Budget estimated at Rs 45-50 crore
  • Avoids clash with other major films
  • Features Simran Bagga and Prit Kamani
2 min read

Sunny Deol keen on theatrical release of 'Gabru'

Sunny Deol, urged by directors Abbas Mustan, is keen to release 'Gabru' in theaters instead of OTT, despite producers' initial plans.

Sunny Deol keen on theatrical release of 'Gabru'
"after the screenings, Sunny Deol felt it should have a theatrical release - Source close to actor"

Mumbai, March 9

Bollywood actor Sunny Deol, who was recently seen in 'Border 2', was keen on releasing his action-drama 'Gabru' theatrically.

The actor wanted to ditch the OTT first route, and take it to theatres considering his upcoming film 'Ikka' is also a direct to OTT release, a source said.

The source close to the actor shared, "'Gabru' was meant to be an OTT film. But after watching the movie, Abbas Mustan urged Sunny to release it in theatres and Sunny bought it".

"The budget is Rs 45-50 crore excluding P&A. Producers of Gabru wanted an OTT release but after the screenings, Sunny Deol felt it should have a theatrical release as 'Ikka' also releasing on the OTT. And he was egged on by Abbas Mustan, Anil Sharma and Rahul Rawail", the source added.

'Gabru' is written and directed by Shashank Udapurkar and produced by Om Chhangani and Vishal Rana. It also features actors Simran Bagga and Prit Kamani in key roles. The film's music is composed by Mithoon, with lyrics by Sayeed Quadri and contributions from Satinder Sartaaj and Anurag Saikia.

The film is described as a drama centered on themes of courage, conscience, identity, and resilience. It presents a character-driven narrative focusing on moral strength and emotional struggle rather than conventional action. The story follows a central figure confronting personal and social challenges, reflecting ideas of empathy and inner conviction.

'Gabru' was announced by Sunny Deol on October 19, 2025, on the occasion of his 68th birthday, when he released the film's first look poster on social media.

The film was initially scheduled for a theatrical release on March 13, 2026 but was later rescheduled to May 2026 to avoid a box-office clash with other releases like 'Dhurandhar: The Revenge', and 'Toxic', the latter shifted its release to June. Distribution is planned through PVR INOX Pictures.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting move. The budget of 45-50 crore is quite high for a film initially planned for OTT. Theatrical release is a big gamble. Hope the content is strong enough to pull people away from their screens at home.
P
Priya S
Respectfully, I'm not sure about this. The description says it's more about moral strength than action. Sunny Deol's fanbase expects the 'dhai kilo ka haath'. A character-driven drama might not work for his core audience in theatres.
R
Rohit P
Smart to avoid the clash with 'Toxic' and others. March was too crowded. May is a better slot. Also, music by Mithoon is a huge plus! His songs are always a treat. Looking forward to the album.
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Ananya R
If veterans like Abbas Mustan and Anil Sharma are pushing for a theatrical release after seeing it, the film must have something special. They know the pulse of the audience. Cautiously optimistic!
M
Michael C
The OTT vs theatre debate continues. For a star of his stature, the theatrical experience is part of the brand. But the producers wanted OTT, which shows where the safe money is. A real clash of visions.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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