Whoever said it was all about the money didn’t know a thing about the large hearts of Bollywood denizens. The unthinkable has happened: Akshay Kumar has agreed to give up the release date of his PadMan to Sanjay Leela Bhansali, allowing the latter’s magnum opus Padmaavat to enjoy a solo arrival and undivided box office on January 25!

The trials and tribulations faced by the period film, Padmaavat are still far from over. From death threats, to sets being burnt down, to continuous protests, to changes made by the CBFC, to the film being banned in four states, to the Supreme Court removing the said ban, the film is finally set for an all-India release after it couldn’t keep its original date with the box office on December 1, 2017. However, it was to arrive, dividing the box office, as the Republic Day weekend had long since been booked by Akshay Kumar for his PadMan.
That glitch too has now been ironed out.

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Apparently, concerned about the fate of the beleaguered film, director Sanjay Bhansali met with Akshay today and the two were embroiled in a long and heartfelt conversation. Given all the difficulties and setbacks the film had already received, Bhansali requested Akshay to postpone the release date of PadMan. And it didn’t take Akshay too long to agree. He has graciously agreed to push back the release of his film to February 9, allowing Padmaavat an open reign at the box office.

Earlier this month, after the Padmaavat makers had received the CBFC U/A certification along with modifications and the title change, they had revealed their decision to release during the Republic Day holiday, in order to make the most of the extended weekend. At that time, Akshay had played it cool, as the whole of B-town expressed shock over the impending clash. “It is not about competition, it is a very big day, a big week, so all the films can come. Both the films can release on that day,” Akshay had maintained, adding, “Every film has the right to release whenever they (makers) want,and I am happy for them.”

Now he has gone ahead and made them happier. There are heroes and then there are superheroes – Akshay has just made it to the higher category!