Cinema VinesBollywood Hungama reported on October 26 that the 1994 action‑thriller Mohra, featuring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Raveena Tandon, will return to Indian cinemas for a Diwali re‑release. The film is scheduled to hit screens during the same week as the highly anticipated Ramayana, sparking speculation that the two releases could clash.
Director Rajiv Rai clarified the situation in an exclusive interview while attending a function in Koh Samui, Thailand. He confirmed that Mohra will indeed be re‑released, but only in a very limited capacity on single screens across the country. The film will continue to circulate in various centres over a six‑month period, similar to the strategy used for his recent film Zora, which opened on October 23.
Rai explained that the re‑release will avoid multiplex chains such as PVR, citing the high virtual print fee (VPF) and steep ticket prices as reasons. He noted that older films, despite having been watched millions of times, generate negligible business in multiplexes, and that a limited release allows for a more manageable and cost‑effective distribution. “It’s just an exercise,” he said, adding that repeat‑run films can perform well, but it is rare and requires continuous movement across the country to accumulate respectable collections.
Regarding the alleged clash with Ramayana, Rai insisted that he is not competing with the epic. He pointed out that Diwali has shifted away from the usual multiplex crowd, creating openings in smaller centres. “Everyone has moved away from Diwali, there’s an opening in small centres and I’m trying to take advantage of that,” he said. He also noted that Ramayana cannot occupy all cinema screens nationwide, and that there may even be no theatre in Mumbai showing Mohra, further reducing any direct conflict.
Rai added that there remains a niche audience eager to watch classic films on big screens, and that the re‑release of Mohra caters to that segment. He emphasized that the film’s return is a strategic move to rekindle interest among fans who appreciate the nostalgic experience of watching a beloved movie on a large screen.
