Vikrant Massey starrer The Sabarmati Report faces new hurdles

There have been yet another stormy incident about the political thriller, The Sabarmati Report starring Vikrant Massey, Raashi Khanna and Ridhi Dogra. Set to hit the theaters on May 3rd 2024; however, being postponed repeatedly and had reshoots, also a director change.

Ridhi Dogra stars in ‘The Sabarmati Report’ as Tushar Hiranandani takes over from Ranjan Chandel following differences: Vikrant Massey film begins reshoots.

The delay came after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) advised that the filmmakers should postpone it until after the elections. Some scenes were deemed politically sensitive by CBFC and thus not convenient for release before or during the elections. Therefore, according to Parami News, it was rescheduled to be released on August 2nd 2024.

In an interview with Parami news a source said “the makers are looking at a new release date. The film is now expected to release in September or October 2024. The makers will announce the new release date in a week or two. The exhibitors too would be informed about The Sabarmati Report’s postponement”. Yet again this date could not hold true due to more unforeseen complications leaving fans disappointed.

According to a report on Peeping Moon website, reshoots of ‘The Sabarmati Report’ are presently underway while its production team is making significant changes in it. Most importantly among them all has been replacing original director Ranjan Chandel with Tushar Hiranandani. This decision by producer Ekta Kapoor has raised eyebrows and sparked conversations across the industry.

As per sources given in report, Ekta Kapoor replaced him because she did not agree with him creatively. It was reported that he was opposed to reshooting and adding new scenes proposed by producers. This led into several creative disagreements where finding a mutual understanding between Chandel and Kapoor became difficult.

“The idea of reshooting and adding new scenes to the movie did not sit well with Chandel, which resulted in creative disagreements with the producers. Due to their radically different sensibilities, Ekta and Chandel were unable to come to an understanding for this movie. Thus, Ekta consulted the actors, received their consent, and brought aboard Tushar Hiranandani to finish the film,” said a source close to the development.

Tushar Hiranandani who helmed recent box office hit Srikanth starring Rajkummar Rao will now be working on The Sabarmati Report as per Kapoor’s vision. In his efforts to align with what had been anticipated by the producers he has already shot for 7-8 days including additional footage and necessary patchwork.

The first thing Parami News did in April, 2024 was announce that The Sabarmati Report would not be shown in cinemas on May 3. A source said, “the film was seen by Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) Examining Committee, who had reservations about certain scenes in it. Moreover, considering the model code of conduct as laid down by Election Commission of India which it might violate and also due to this fact that the last phase of elections would happen on June 1, it is recommended that its release should take place thereafter.”

It is a political thriller based on two journalists investigating the fire of Sabarmati Express at Godhra which occurred on February 27, 2002. Shobha Kapoor along with Ektaa R Kapoor are producers while Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan respectively co-produce it.