A Father’s Unfulfilled Wish and a Filmmaker’s Frustration: The Saga of Pooja Meri Jaan
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, filmmaker Navjot Gulati has publicly criticized Maddock Films for the prolonged delay in releasing his passion project, Pooja Meri Jaan. The emotional core of this dispute lies in Gulati’s revelation that his father’s final wish was to see the film before his passing in 2024—a wish that remains unfulfilled. But here’s where it gets controversial: Gulati claims the delay is due to Maddock Films’ alleged prioritization of big-budget productions over smaller, more personal projects like his.
During an interview with Variety India, Gulati shared a poignant detail: his father repeatedly asked, ‘Kab aayegi teri Pooja?’ (When will your Pooja come?) during his final months. Gulati’s response was always ‘soon,’ but that ‘soon’ never arrived. His father passed away without seeing the film, leaving Gulati with a profound sense of regret. This personal loss has fueled his frustration with the production house, which he accuses of neglecting accountability and communication.
And this is the part most people miss: Gulati alleges that co-producer Amar Kaushik has been unreachable since October 2025, despite numerous attempts to contact him. ‘I’m tired of calling and texting into the void,’ Gulati stated, adding that his public outcry is a last resort to hold the production house accountable. The film, originally slated for a 2024 OTT release on JioCinema, has been caught in an ‘unending cycle’ of postponements—first to 2025, and now indefinitely into 2026. While a streaming platform has shown interest, negotiations over pricing have stalled for nine months, with Maddock Films reportedly holding out for a higher valuation.
The situation became more complex after JioCinema merged with Disney+ Hotstar, leaving the producers to explore other platforms. However, Gulati questions why alternative release strategies aren’t being considered. ‘They’re so focused on big movies that they’ve forgotten about the smaller films they’ve made,’ he said, sparking a debate about the industry’s treatment of lesser-known projects. Is this a fair assessment, or is there more to the story?
Gulati’s fears are further amplified by the fate of films like Shoebite, directed by Shoojit Sircar, which remains unreleased despite years of discussion. He doesn’t want Pooja Meri Jaan to suffer the same fate. In a social media post from January last year, Gulati expressed his grief over his father’s passing and the regret of not being able to show him what he called his ‘life’s best work.’ The post, tagged with actors Mrunal Thakur and Vikram Singh Chauhan, reflected his hope for the film’s eventual release.
As of now, Maddock Films has not publicly responded to Gulati’s allegations, leaving the industry and audiences alike to speculate. Does this silence validate Gulati’s claims, or is there a valid reason behind the delay? We invite you to share your thoughts in the comments—is this a case of corporate greed overshadowing artistic vision, or are there legitimate commercial considerations at play? Let the discussion begin.
