Director Navjot Gulati Calls Out Maddock Films Over Delayed Release

The long-awaited film, Pooja Meri Jaan, directed by Navjot Gulati, has faced significant delays in its release, prompting the director to publicly criticize Maddock Films. Announced three years ago and reportedly filmed by August 2022, the project has seen no updates regarding its premiere. In an interview with Variety India, Gulati expressed his frustration over the production house’s lack of communication and accountability.

Gulati shared that his father, who passed away in 2024, had repeatedly asked about the film’s release during his final days. “It was my father’s last wish to see this film released,” he stated, emphasizing the emotional weight of the situation. Since their last conversation in October 2025, co-producer Amar Kaushik has not responded to Gulati’s attempts to reach out.

“I’m tired of calling and texting and yet not hearing back,” Gulati lamented. He noted that while the film remains topical and relevant, there is a risk it may never see the light of day if the situation does not change. “I don’t want it to become another Shoojit Sircar‘s Shoebite, which is only talked about but was never released,” he added.

Gulati pointed out that Maddock Films seems to be prioritizing higher-budget projects over smaller films like Pooja Meri Jaan. He mentioned that negotiations regarding the film’s potential sale to streaming platforms have been ongoing for nine months without resolution. Originally commissioned for OTT release, the film was slated to stream on JioCinema. However, after JioCinema’s merger with Disney+ Hotstar, producers were informed they could explore other platforms.

“They will never sell it unless they don’t get the price they’re looking for,” Gulati explained. He cited the recent theatrical release of Vadh 2, another OTT-commissioned film, by Luv Films, questioning why Maddock Films has not taken similar action with his project.

In addition to Pooja Meri Jaan, Gulati revealed that Maddock Films is also delaying the release of two other films: Rumi Ki Sharafat, featuring Radhika Madan, and Sarvgunn Sampanna, starring Vaani Kapoor. The lack of updates on these projects further highlights concerns about the production house’s commitment to smaller films.

As the film industry continues to evolve, the fate of Pooja Meri Jaan remains uncertain. With mounting pressure from its director and the emotional stakes tied to its release, it will be interesting to see how Maddock Films responds to these serious claims in the coming months.