MUMBAI: UTV and multiplex operators have reached a settlement to show Jodhaa Akbar, ending a dispute over revenue sharing terms. The Hritik Roshan-Aishwarya Rai starrer and UTV production, however, escapes screens in Rajasthan. Speaking to Indiantelevision.com after a late-evening meeting with multiplex operators, UTV Motion Pictures Plc director Siddharth Roy Kapur said: “All multiplexes will start screening of Jodhaa Akbar from Saturday.” He, however, declined to divulge the commercial terms of UTV‘s settlement with the multiplexes. Indian multiplex chains like Inox theaters, Adlabs Cinemas, Fame, Fun Cinemas, Cinemax and Movietime could not agree on the revenue sharing model, leading to a boycott of the Rs 400 million period film in 430 cinema screens across the country. Jodhaa Akbar released on 15 February across 26 countries. Prior to launch, UTV said it would release the movie in 1,325 screens, of which 500 will be through digital cinemas and 825 through physical prints. In the US, the film released with close to 122 prints. Cinema halls in Rajasthan continue to boycott the film amid protests by Rajput groups against “distortion of historical facts” in the movie based on Mughal emperor Akbar. In Rajasthan, Karni Sena activists had written letters in blood against the film‘s release and submitted it to theatre owners. Karni Sena patron Lokendra Kalvi had said they would not stop the film but the Vasundhara Raje government would be held “responsible” if any untoward incidents occurred.
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