Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Sooryavanshi' postponed as COVID-19 cases rise

The film's makers said in a statement on Monday, "The Honorable Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray had a discussion with director Rohit Shetty yesterday."

"In the meeting, Mr. Uddhav Thackeray appreciated Rohit Shetty as he took the brave and difficult decision of postponing Sooryavanshi owing to the current COVID-19 situation in the state," the statement further added.

Sooryavanshi was earlier scheduled to be released on March 24, 2020.

However, due to the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, it was postponed.

In June last year, it was decided that the film would be released around Diwali. Its release was pushed again.

In February this year, when the Centre allowed 100% occupancy in cinema halls, the film was scheduled for an April 2 release.

Besides crushing fans who have long awaited the film's release, Sooryavanshi's postponement is expected to hurt the industry at large.

The big-budget cop actioner was expected to be a blockbuster.

Earlier, other films such as Chehre and Bunty Aur Babli 2 were also postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.

Notably, the film's lead actor Akshay Kumar is also down with COVID-19.

Amid an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state government on Sunday announced new curbs, including a night curfew from 8 pm to 7 am and a weekend lockdown.

Although the government allowed film shoots to continue (provided there are no crowds), it ordered shut cinema halls and theaters.

Maharashtra is India's worst-hit state in the COVID-19 outbreak.