Cinema VinesAfter a protracted four‑year wait, the thriller Pooja Meri Jaan will finally reach audiences on the streaming platform ZEE5. The film, which stars Mrunal Thakur and Huma Qureshi, was originally slated for a direct release on JioCinema before the platform merged with Disney+ Hotstar, leaving the project in limbo.
Director Navjot Gulati, who also co‑produced the film, has spoken openly about the toll the delay has taken on him. He revealed that his father, who died in 2024, had spent his final months anxiously asking when the movie would finally premiere. Gulati also reported that co‑producer Amar Kaushik stopped responding to his calls and messages after October 2025, leaving him feeling abandoned.
The core issue, according to Gulati, was a pricing dispute with Maddock Films, the production house headed by Dinesh Vijan. He alleged that Maddock would not sell the film unless it received the amount it demanded. Gulati questioned why the makers did not pursue a theatrical release, citing the example of Vadh 2, which was initially an OTT project but eventually hit cinemas.
Gulati further explained that the prolonged hold‑up has harmed his career. He said that producers and collaborators have become hesitant to work with him because his debut feature remains unreleased despite being finished years ago. He even expressed a willingness to buy back the film himself if the producers were no longer interested, in hopes of finally delivering it to viewers.
Now, ZEE5 has announced that Pooja Meri Jaan will be part of its upcoming slate, though a precise premiere date has not yet been disclosed. The platform is also rolling out a range of new Hindi content, including the series Kambli, The Scam: Leaked, Coffee King, and Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai 2.0 with R Madhavan as host, as well as a revival of the classic Zee Horror Show.
In addition to the new series, ZEE5 is set to launch several high‑profile films such as Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai featuring Varun Dhawan, Pooja Hegde and Mouni Roy; Bandar starring Bobby Deol and Sanya Malhotra; Bharat Bhagya Vidhata with Kangana Ranaut; Sarvgunn Sampann starring Vaani Kapoor; and others like Ghamasaan, Ikroop and Dalimb.
Set in the thriller genre, Pooja Meri Jaan delves into the dark realities of stalking and cybercrime, with Mrunal Thakur and Huma Qureshi leading the cast. Fans of the film can look forward to its eventual release on ZEE5, bringing an end to a long period of uncertainty and frustration for both the creators and the audience alike.
