While almost all Salman Khan movies are heavily panned by critics, they are lapped up by the audience and smoothly sail across the Rs 100 crore mark. It appears that even a pandemic and the subsequent shuttering of theatres hasn’t dented his popularity.

 

Filmfare quotes an online portal and states that Salman Khan has sold the rights of Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai to Zee Studios for a whopping Rs 230 crores.

 

Also Read: David Dhawan On Directing Varun Dhawan In Kissing Scenes

 

“Salman has sold the satellite, theatrical (India + Overseas), digital and music rights of Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai to Zee Studios for Rs. 230 crores, which is the biggest deal in COVID times. It’s a reasonable deal that has led to a stable profit for Salman whereas Zee, too, doesn’t have much risk involved given that Salman’s films command a great return value in terms of digital and satellite viewing side by side music streaming on various platforms,” the source told the online portal, reports Filmfare.

 

Now, Hindustan Times reports that multiple film exhibitors have written to Salman Khan and asked him to not release Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai on a digital platform. It is no secret that theatres have suffered greatly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the exhibitors believe that a Salman Khan film will bring audiences back to the big screen.

 

Read the full letter below:

 

Dear Mr Salman Khan,

 

Hope this letter finds you well.

 

As you are aware, 2020 has been a rough year for millions of people across the country & the ones associated with India’s film exhibition sector haven’t been an exception. Over the last 10 months, hundreds of single screen / independent cinemas have pulled down their shutters permanently & this has resulted in the loss of livelihood for lakhs of people who were employed by them directly & indirectly.

 

Films are to theatres what fuel is to a car. Without a constant supply of content that is relevant to its audience, running a cinema hall is close to impossible. For over a decade now, your films have played an important role in bringing audiences to single screen cinemas, which are otherwise starved for content that caters to the sensibilities of people who patronize them.

 

Your film RADHE – YOUR MOST WANTED BHAI is among the few that are capable of resurrecting the fortunes of independent / single screen cinemas across the country. A film like that, if released widely can give not just financial support & relief, but also a ray of hope to owners & employees of theatres in the context of their future. We request you to plan the film’s release at every cinema in the country on Eid 2021, as there cannot be a better eidi than that for us film exhibitors & more importantly for millions of your fans, whom we cannot wait to welcome back at the theatres!

 

Till date, not even a single case of people contracting COVID 19 has been traced back to a cinema hall anywhere in the world & we are confident of keeping your fans safe by following comprehensive protocols & guidelines that have been issued by the concerned authorities.

 

May 2021 bring lots of happiness, love & prosperity to you and your family. In anticipation of your support & on behalf of lakhs of Indians who make a living by working at & for cinema halls.

 

Yours truly,

 

– Cinematograph Exhibitors Association of Gujarat – Indian Cine Exhibitors Association, Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand – HPC (Exhibitors), Central Circuit Cine Association -Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh & Rajasthan – Bihar Jharkhand Motion Pictures Association – Movie Exhibitors Association of Rajasthan – East India Motion Pictures Association, West Bengal & Tripura – All Assam Cinema Hall Owners Association – Chhattisgarh Exhibitors Forum – Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce – Motion Pictures Association, Delhi NCR – Marathwada Chitrapat Sabhagrah Sangh – Bihar Cinema Exhibitors Association – Uttaranchal Cinemas Association, Dehradun – Chennai Chengulpeth Theatre Owners Association – Film Exhibitors Forum of Vidarbha – Greater Hyderabad Exhibitors Association – Tamil Nadu Theatres & Multiplex Association.

 

Also Read: Salman Khan Movies Won’t Work If Taken Out Of The Theatres: Naseeruddin Shah