The curious case of Jab Harry Met Sejal's release date

Shah Rukh Khan’s production house had decided to not release Jab Harry Met Sejal on Thursday in Dubai/UAE, like all Hindi  films are in those parts to facilitate the Friday namaz crowd’s need to be at their prayers. For many years now, all Indian films have traditionally released in that market on Thursday morning.

On Sunday, there were reports that Shah Rukh and his company Red Chillies had decided to go straight into a worldwide Friday release for Jab Harry Met Sejal. By Monday morning, Shah Rukh confirmed that the film would indeed be released on Thursday, August 3.

A source close to the developments reveals, “Shah Rukh and Red Chillies did contemplate shifting the release date in Dubai and UAE to Friday, as the Thursday release poses the danger of piracy from Dubai and of early reviews from the Middle East. But after the backlash, the prior release date was restored.”