Bhansali came to meet me and requested to push Pad Man’s release: Akshay Kumar

R Balki’s Pad Man starring Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat were to clash on January 25, but that, no longer is happening.

Confirming that his film Pad Man will get pushed to February 9 to avert a clash with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmaavat, Akshay Kumar has told HT that he was left with no choice after Bhansali landed up to meet him today and pleaded for help.

Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone in a still from Pad Man and Padmaavat respectively.

“I was rehearsing for my performance at an upcoming awards show when Sanjay Bhansali came to meet me today. He said he is going through a lot of stress and will be in big trouble if Padmaavat will clash with Pad Man. He requested for postponing Pad Man. I have worked with him in two films, and when someone you have worked with requests like this, it is very difficult to say no,” says Akshay, whose films Rowdy Rathore (2012) and Gabbar Is Back (2015) were produced by Bhansali.

To make the announcement about the postponement, Akshay Kumar, Director R Balki and Bhansali are holding a press conference in Mumbai.

Padmaavat, earlier titled Padmavati, was embroiled in a series of controversies ever since the shooting began. Whether it was death threats from Rajput Karni Sena or some groups raising a bounties on Bhansali and actor Deepika Padukone’s heads, the film kept making headlines. Originally slated for December 1, 2017, the film is finally releasing on January 25. Akshay Kumar’s Pad Man, based on menstrual hygiene and sanitation will now release on February 9. The film also stars Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in main roles.

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