Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Jul 27: The release of filmmaker Amit Rai's family entertainer Ohh My Dog, starring his son Maahi Rai and actor Pankaj Tripathi, has been postponed by a week to avoid a crowded box office.

The film, which was originally scheduled to hit theatres on July 31, will now be released on August 7.

According to sources, the makers took the decision late on Sunday after realising that a majority of cinema screens had already been allocated to The Odyssey and Dhamaal 4. The release of Spider-Man on July 31 also contributed to the decision, with the team believing the competition would be too intense for a relatively small family film.

Explaining the move, Amit Rai said Ohh My Dog shares a similar target audience with the other releases and would have struggled to secure sufficient screens for a wider reach.

"It has all the potential, but it just won't have the space," Rai said.

He added that delaying the release by a week would allow audiences to watch the bigger films first, giving Ohh My Dog a better opportunity to find its audience.

"By then, there will be a little space, and we might be able to grow there. That is the very valid reason behind shifting the release," he said.

Speaking at the film's trailer launch, Pankaj Tripathi stressed the importance of supporting meaningful films regardless of the size of an actor's role.

He said he joined the project because of its subject and credited writer-director Amit Rai, the child actor and the dogs featured in the film as its real stars.

"This is not my film. I have only supported it and appear in a few scenes," Tripathi said.

He added that the film was made with conviction rather than commercial ambition, saying its success should be measured by its ability to connect with audiences rather than by box office collections.

The film also features Pavan Malhotra and Rajesh Kumar in pivotal roles.