After Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017), the Akshay Kumar-starrer Pad Man (2018), directed by R Balki, is gearing up for a China release on 14 December. This will be the ninth Hindi film to be released in the country after Secret Superstar (2017), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Hindi Medium (2017), Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017), Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017), Sultan (2016), Hichki (2017) and 102 Not Out (2018).
The actor, who will next be seen in 2.0 (2018) with superstar Rajinikanth, shared the news online.
Pad Man, which also stars Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor, arrives just before China’s blackout period begins from 21 December. China oftens blocks international films from release so that their domestic films have a chance to be seen. The Amitabh Bachchan-Rishi Kapoor starrer 102 Not Out will be released on 30 November.
Earlier, it was speculated that actor-producer Aamir Khan, who enjoys a good following in China, would bring his latest film, Thugs Of Hindostan (2018) on 14 December. However, the film has now been postponed to 2019.
There has been a significant rise of Indian films releasing in China, even with Tamil films like Mersal (2017), starring Vijay, slated to be released in 2019. If 2018 has been anything to judge by, 2019 looks likely to surpass it.