Phule was originally set to hit theaters on April 11, 2025, coinciding with the 197th birthday of social reformer Jyotirao Govindrao Phule. Unfortunately, the film's release has been delayed, leaving Pratik Gandhi feeling let down. The updated release date for the biopic is now April 25.

Response to the trailer launch has been negative

Ananth Narayan Mahadevan's film Phule, featuring Patralekhaa as Savitribai Phule, faced backlash from some Brahmins following the release of its teaser on April 10. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) requested the removal of terms like "Mang," "Mahar," and "Peshwai," and asked to modify the phrase "3,000 saal purani ghulami" to "kai saal purani ghulami" after granting the film a "U" certificate on April 7. Mahadevan stated that the filmmakers complied with the board's recommendations.

Pratik, who plays the lead role of Jyotirao Phule, shared with PTI that he was in the middle of a shoot when he found out the film's release had been postponed by two weeks. This news initially brought him down. But after chatting with the producers, he understood the reasons behind the delay, which were out of their hands.

Lost chances and embracing reality

He shared his disappointment about the celebration of Jyotirao Phule's 197th anniversary on April 11. If the film had premiered on that significant date, it could have made a mark in history. But in the end, it might be for the best.

The actor from Scam 1992 mentioned that there were requests to tone down certain aspects and communicate them differently, referring to the "certain amendments" made to the final cut. As far as he knows, the film has been adjusted as much as possible without any major changes or loss of integrity.

He also noted that there was a sudden backlash from some people who felt the film was against them or their beliefs, acknowledging the protests from a portion of the audience. For whatever reason, April 25 ended up being a more fitting date for the producers and distributors.

Pratik Gandhi's connection with the Brahmin community

The actor encouraged the Brahmin community to hold off on their judgments until they’ve watched the full movie. While he gets where they’re coming from, Pratik was still surprised by their reaction. He just wants them to see the whole film before forming an opinion since what they’ve seen so far is just a teaser. The clips they’ve viewed don’t give a full picture of the movie.

In a previous chat with PTI, Mahadevan described the controversy surrounding Phule as "unnecessary," noting that the film had already addressed all the recommendations from the CBFC. He mentioned that there’s "nothing objectionable" in the film, which is why the release date was adjusted to resolve the issue.

With backing from Dancing Shiva Films and Kingsmen Productions, Zee Studios is set to release Phule in theaters.

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