Pankaj Tripathi’s Ohh My Dog postponed, director says ‘won’t repeat’ OMG 2 clash make | Bollywood News

4 min readNew DelhiJul 27, 2026 12:41 PM Pankaj Tripathi’s upcoming family entertainer Ohh My Dog was set to hit the theatres in July 31. However, the release date of the film has been postponed a week. It is now scheduled to debut on the big screens on August 7. While talking to SCREEN exclusively, the film’s director Amit Rai revealed that the reason behind the postponement is lesser screens and a clash with other big releases. He also admitted making a make releasing his Akshay Kumar, Pankaj Tripathi starrer OMG 2 with Sunny Deol’s Gadar 2, in 2023.
Amit Rai on Why Oh My Dog Was Postponed
When asked about pushing the release date of his film Ohh My Dog, he shared, “We made a practical decision because the screens will get occupied with Spider Man. Already Odyssey has taken over the theatres, and Dhamaal 4 is also screening in two shows. So, our base is a family audience and it will be scattered in all these films, a big chunk will go to Spider-Man Brand New Day. There won’t even be a chance of increasing the number of screens.”
The director also opened up about the positive response the upcoming movie received from his close friends and family. “I can’t say no to close friends, so we have been doing special group screenings. I wanted reactions, so we have done it in Jaipur, Lucknow, and Calcutta. The reactions are very positive, and that made me take the decision overnight. The reaction of the audience, especially children, was tremendous, more than expected,” he said.
Rai also recalled making a big make of releasing his film OMG 2 on the same date Gadar 2 was premiering, and the latter turning out to become the winner. “I didn’t want that positive response to stay limited to close friends. It has to go to people and become big. My last film had the same fate, the crew and my friends loved it. They wanted it to be showcased in schools, but it got an ‘A’ certificate. Despite that, I kept saying that the release date should be changed,” he elaborated.
ALSO READ | People judged me for not speaking English, assumed I came from poverty: Pankaj Tripathi
‘I don’t want to repeat hory’
He continued, “But, it was announced then and the film was released with Gadar 2. Even with the competition, my film earned Rs 188 crore, but Gadar 2 collected Rs 500-600 crore. If OMG 2 had a solo release, it would have comfortably earned Rs 300-350 crore. It shouldn’t have been released with Gadar 2, so I don’t want to repeat hory. I will not make the same make again.”
In a statement to the media, filmmaker Amit Rai spoke about the decision and said that Spider-Man is expected to “create hory” with an opening of “around Rs 50 crore,” leaving little room for other films. “Even after making such a good film, the reason won’t be anything else… the reason will be that we simply won’t have the space to occupy screens,” he mentioned.Story continues below this ad
Explaining the postponement of Ohh My Dog, Rai said the team decided to “step aside briefly,” delay the release a week, and return when audiences had already watched the bigger releases. “ then, there will be a little space, and we might be able to grow there.”
Besides Tripathi, Ohh My Dog also stars Pavan Malhotra and Maahi Rai. The family drama tells the story of a young child’s pure bond with a stray dog and handling the major problem of dog trafficking. It also features canine stars Oscar and Bruno, along with more than 250 real dogs.
Major clash with Odyssey and Spider Man
For the unversed, Chropher Nolan’s The Odyssey hit the theatres last week and has been performing well at the box office. It has already crossed $600 million globally. On the other hand, Marvel’s much-awaited Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also releasing next week, on July 31.
Having said that, Spider Man is missing an IMAX release because Nolan’s The Odyssey secured a worldwide four-week IMAX exclusivity window from July 17, 2026. This block leaves no IMAX screens available for the Marvel release.
Expand

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journal and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events.
Experience & Professional Background
Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include:

The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of “exclusive conversations” for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam.
Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah.

Expertise & Focus Areas
Navya’s beat is uniquely defined her “Gen-Z Revisit” series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include:

Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth.
Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and dribution in the OTT era.
On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan.
South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera.

Authoritativeness & Trust
Navya Kharbanda has established her authority consently providing “Journalism of Courage” in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry hory with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. … Read More

Click here to follow Screen Digital on YouTube and stay updated with the latest from the world of cinema.