Vikrant Massey Starrer The Sabarmati Report Faces New Hurdles – Director Replaced, Reshoots Commence

The political thriller The Sabarmati Report, starring Vikrant Massey, Raashi Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra, finds itself in turbulent waters again. Initially slated for a theatrical release on May 3, 2024, the film has faced multiple postponements, reshoots, and a significant change in its directorial team.

New Challenges for The Sabarmati Report

The initial delay was attributed to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which advised postponing the release until after the elections due to potentially sensitive scenes. Bollywood Hungama reported that the release was rescheduled for August 2, 2024. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “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.” However, this date was also invalidated due to further unforeseen circumstances.

Director Replacement and Creative Differences

According to Peeping Moon, The Sabarmati Report is currently undergoing reshoots with significant alterations. The most notable change is the replacement of original director Ranjan Chandel with Tushar Hiranandani. This decision by producer Ekta Kapoor has sparked conversations across the industry.

Sources reveal that creative differences between Chandel and Kapoor led to this change. Chandel was reportedly opposed to the reshoots and the addition of new scenes proposed by the producers. This led to creative disagreements, making it difficult for Chandel and Kapoor to find common ground. “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 Takes Over

Tushar Hiranandani, who recently directed the box office hit Srikanth starring Rajkummar Rao, has taken on the task of reshaping The Sabarmati Report according to Kapoor's vision. Hiranandani has already shot for 7-8 days, including additional footage and necessary patchwork to align the film with the producers' expectations.

Background and Plot

In April 2024, Bollywood Hungama first reported that The Sabarmati Report wouldn’t make it to cinemas on May 3. A source mentioned, “The Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) Examining Committee saw the film and had objections to certain scenes. Also, fearing that it might violate the model code of conduct as laid down by the Election Commission of India, it has been advised that it should be released after the last phase of elections, which will take place on June 1.”

The Sabarmati Report is a political thriller about two reporters investigating the burning of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra on February 27, 2002. It is produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan, and Anshul Mohan.

Conclusion

As The Sabarmati Report navigates through its challenges, the anticipation builds for its new release date. With Tushar Hiranandani at the helm, the film aims to meet the high expectations set by its producers and audience.