'Mission Istaanbul' postponed for Sanjay Dutt's 'Mehbooba'
Sunil Shetty has postponed the release of 'Mission Istaanbul' by two weeks, from July 11 to July 25, following a request from Sanjay Dutt to give 'Mehbooba' a clear playing field.


July 2, 2008 (Sawf News) - Sunil Shetty has postponed the release of Mission Istaanbul by two weeks, from July 11 to July 25, following a request from Sanjay Dutt to give Mehbooba a clear playing field.

Shetty has co-produced Mission Istaanbul, top lining Vivek Oberoi and Zayed Khan, under his banner Popkorn Entertainment along with Balaji Telefilms.

Mehbooba, starring Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgan, Manisha Koirala and Reema Lagoo has been in the making for nearly a decade. The film, produced and directed by Dutt's close friend, Afzal Khan, was all set to clash at the ticket window with Mission Istaanbul.

"Mehbooba kept on getting delayed due to Dutt's court trials and subsequent jail terms in the Mumbai bomb blasts and arms possession case," our source tells us.

"Throughout his court turmoil Khan stuck with Dutt like a true friend. He would be seen accompanying Dutt to the TADA court in Mumbai almost every single time the actor went there for years."

Dutt realized that given a choice audiences will opt for the big budget thriller Mission Istaanbul over Afzal's dated Mehbooba.

"Sanjay Dutt doesn't want Afzal to bear any more losses that would result from the clash," adds the source.

When Dutt, who is presently in the Bahamas shooting for Blue, requested Shetty to postpone the release of Mehbooba, Shetty, who treats Dutt like his elder brother, agreed readily.

"He even managed to convince Balaji bigwigs to go along.

"Balaji, who had earlier planned to release C-Kkompany, starring Tusshar Kapoor, Anupam Kher and Raima Sen, on August 1have postponed its release indefinitely to accommodate the request."

Another trade source suggested that Shetty may not be acting just a good friend but also a shrewd businessman.

"Shetty understands that if either of the films releasing on Friday, July 4, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and Love Story 2050, click bigtime at the box-office the film's success would adversely impact any film released in the subsequent week!"

With the added time on hand, the Mission Istaanbul makers have now planned a promotional overdrive for their film.
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