Hyderabad/Mumbai: Fans eagerly anticipating Vijay Deverakonda’s Kingdom will not see a Hindi theatrical release, with reports indicating that the Hindi version, titled “Saamraajya,” is slated for a direct-to-OTT premiere on Netflix. This comes after multiple delays for the Gowtam Tinnanuri-directed movie, which is now set to hit Telugu and Tamil cinemas on July 31, 2025.
Industry insiders point to the unlikelihood of a profitable Hindi theatrical release without the robust support of major multiplex chains. Furthermore, the mandatory eight-week gap between a theatrical release and its OTT debut would significantly complicate release strategies for “Saamraajya.” To circumvent these challenges, the team has reportedly decided to bypass a Hindi theatrical run and proceed directly to a digital release. An official confirmation from the production team is still awaited.
The film, which co-stars Bhagyashri, has faced two significant delays in its Telugu release. Originally scheduled for a May 30 summer release, it was pushed to July 4. Producers attributed this initial delay to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following “Operation Sindoor” and the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attacks on April 22, which saw 26 innocent lives lost. The release date was subsequently postponed again.
Amidst these shifts, analysts suggest that “Kingdom’s” producers need to significantly ramp up their marketing efforts to generate pre-release buzz and draw audiences to cinemas for the Telugu and Tamil versions. All eyes are now on official announcements from the “Kingdom” team regarding the Hindi version’s streaming debut and further promotional activities.
