Udta Teer postponed to avoid box-office clash amid crowded October releases

Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan’s upcoming film Udta Teer has been delayed, with the makers opting to move it away from a crowded release window. The decision comes at a time when several titles are lined up for the same period, prompting the team to avoid a direct box-office clash.

The shift also comes amid strong theatrical momentum for other Hindi releases. Drishyam 3, which released in cinemas on October 2, opened to heightened anticipation, with advance bookings indicating a strong start and trade expectations pointing to a bigger opening with the benefit of the National holiday and audience interest in Ajay Devgn returning as Vijay Salgaonkar.

The film, Udta Teer, was earlier slated to release in theatres on October 9, but will now arrive on October 23. Several films are scheduled for release on October 9, including Gondhal, India’s official Oscar 2027 entry, which will begin exclusive preview screenings from that day. To avoid a clash, the makers decided to move Udta Teer by two weeks.

This is not the first delay for the film. Udta Teer was initially scheduled to hit theatres on September 11. In August, its release was pushed to October 9, and with the latest change, it is now set for an October 23 release.

The trailer of Udta Teer offered a glimpse of an action comedy built around espionage satire, mistaken identity and ensemble humour. Directed by debutant Akash A Kaushik, the film stars Ayushmann as Bilal, a Pakistani intelligence operative who loses his memory after a blast and wakes up believing he is an officer in India’s Counter-Terrorism Squad. Sara plays a fellow CTS officer who does not know his real identity.

The trailer places the identity-swap comedy at the centre of the story, with Bilal taking on strongly patriotic traits while his handlers in Pakistan try to manage the fallout. It also features train combat, explosions, fourth-wall-breaking humour and political satire. The film’s music has been composed by Sachin-Jigar.

Udta Teer brings Ayushmann and Sara together again after Pati Patni Aur Woh Do. The supporting cast includes Rahul Bose, Ram Kapoor, Suhail Nayyar, Gulshan Grover, Mukul Dev, Raghubir Yadav, Brijendra Kala, Sandeep Anand, Supriya Pilgaonkar and Smita Tambe. The film is backed by Dharma Productions and Sikhya Entertainment, with Karan Johar, Guneet Monga Kapoor, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta and Achin Jain serving as producers.

Meanwhile, Drishyam 3 is expected to post a strong opening. According to a report published by industry tracker Box Office India, the film could earn Rs 55-60 crore nett or more by the end of its first day, after an estimated opening of Rs 50 crore nett was indicated by advance bookings. If that happens, it will record the second-highest opening day for a Bollywood film this year, behind only Dhurandhar: The Revenge.- EndsALSO READ | Ayushmann Khurrana breaks silence on chanting 'Pakistan Zindabad' in Udta Teer