The Shahid-Sonam starrer loses out on a solo release this weekend due to print issues

There seems to be no end to Mausam's woes. Pankaj Kapur's directorial debut has run into trouble again.

The latest is that the film featuring Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor won't open in cinemas this Friday, but next weekend instead.

Unfortunately, it has lost out on being the solo release of this week, and will now vie for its share of the box-office pie with four other movies.

It is learnt that the rescheduling of the release is attributed to inability to make and dispatch the prints in time for releases across the globe this Friday.

A source explains that it all started with the conditional NOC asked for by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Reportedly, the IAF requested that the 30-second 'dog fight' between two fighter jets in the movie be altered.

Initially, the Mausam makers were apprehensive about carrying out the required changes, but eventually agreed as time was running out. According to a source, Mausam got its censor certificate just three days ago.

"To our surprise, the Central Board of Film Certification asked for a review, so we got the 'U' certificate on Tuesday evening, " informs the source, adding that due to these reasons they wouldn't have been able to meet the overseas date of release. "The release date of Mausam is now locked for September 23, " he adds.

It is also learnt that the film's makers had a screening for the IAF yesterday noon. "As all the changes asked for by them have been carried out, this was a mere formality. It won't affect the movie's release on September 23, " says the source.

However, Pankaja Thakur, CEO, censor board maintained that they had followed the routine procedure for certifying the movie.

"Mausam was examined on September 12 and the censor certificate was issued the following evening, September 13, " she states, denying the film being cleared earlier.

Mausam will now compete with Akshay Kumar's Indo-Canadian fare Speedy Singhs and Tusshar Kapoor-Shreyas Talpade-Minissha Lamba's Hum Tum Shabana, apart from smaller films like U R My Jaan and Yaara O Dildaara in the theaters next Friday.

And the woes continue...

Interestingly, that's not the end of troubles for Mausam. Veteran southside producer Suresh Babu wants Mausam producer Sheetal Talwar to clear over R 2.5 crore she owes him for Rann, featuring Amitabh Bachchan under the aegis of Ram Gopal Varma.

Apparently, Suresh Productions was funding Rann, but opted out after the budgets escalated. Talwar and his associate, Madhu Mantena are believed to have conveyed to Suresh Babu that they'd clear his dues after Rann, Jhootha Hi Sahi, Rakht Charitra and Rakht Charitra 2.

But since they haven't got more than Rs 50 lakh for the Rs 3 crore plus owed to them, Suresh Productions has approached the various production bodies.