Fear of the Omicron variant has struck the Indian entertainment industry once more, with rumours abounding that the much-anticipated ‘RRR,’ directed by SS Rajamouli, will most likely be postponed yet again as several states across the country impose restrictions in response to an increase in COVID-19 cases.

The Telugu film ‘RRR,’ starring Ram Charan and Jr NTR, as well as Bollywood actors Ajay Devgn and Alia Bhatt, is set to be released internationally on January 7 in many languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam. Keeping the present circumstances in mind, many industry experts now feel this is very improbable, with an announcement to the same almost inevitable.

However, another source, as stated by entertainment portal Koimoi, reiterates that the film would go forward as planned owing to the limits imposed, despite other studios, like the creators of Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Jersey,’ which has been postponed indefinitely due to the surge in COVID-19 instances.

“SS Rajamouli and the ‘RRR’ crew had requested that numerous film producers – from Bheemla Nayak to F3 and Sarkaru Vaari Paata – delay their release to make place for ‘RRR,'” a trade insider said. “The crew believed that a film with a budget as large as ‘RRR’ should make the maximum money during the festival season of Pongal and Sankranti [celebrated in January].” All of the producers were nice enough to postpone the picture in order to create room for ‘RRR.’ The makers of all films also announced their new release dates and adjusted their schedules to accommodate the new dates. ‘RRR’ is the sole film that will be released on January 7 in [the Indian states of] Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.”

The insider also stated that if the ‘RRR’ team delays the release once more, there is a strong risk that a single release in its home state will be impossible. “Delaying ‘RRR’ now would be unjust to the creators of other films.” The market in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is fully operational. The government there, too, overcame the lingering ticket rate concerns for ‘RRR’ in order to assure a January 7th grand release.”

The film is a fictionalised account of two Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, who battled against the British Raj and the Nizam of Hyderabad, respectively.

All eyes are on ‘RRR,’ while the fates of other big-budget films, like Prabhas’ ‘Radhe Shyam,’ Ajith’s action feature ‘Valimai,’ and Akshay Kumar’s ‘Prithviraj,’ are in doubt.

While ‘Radhe Shyam’ is largely a Telugu film with a Hindi dubbing,’ Tamil film ‘Valimai’ will also be released in Hindi.