The pandemic in 2020 turned the lives of people world over, including those in the entertainment industry, as film productions and releases took a big hit. As film and television show shoots have been gradually returning to normal mode of functioning and theatrical releases as well steadily returning back to its earlier pattern, there have been a few major ventures that have since last year been announced to be skipping a theatrical release. In that light, leading streaming giant Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday dropped the bombshell announcement that the highly-anticipated Farhan Akhtar starrer Toofaan is the next to join the list. 

Amazon Prime Video has announced that Farhan Akhtar's sports drama, Toofaan, directed by blockbuster filmmaker Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will be premiering on their platform on May 21. Today’s announcement of Toofaan skipping its theatrical release and coming out directly on OTT is the next big news after Suriya’s Soorarai Pottru premiered on Amazon Prime Video last year, followed by Netflix sometime back issuing a statement that Dhanush’s upcoming Jagame Thanthiram will be out on their platform next. 

Toofaan is incidentally Rakeysh and Farhan's second collaboration after their smash hit, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, in 2013, which was a sports biopic based on the life of Indian athlete Milkha Singh, a former Commonwealth Champion, Asian champion and an Olympian. Speaking about Toofaan and Farhan Akhtar, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said, "After working with Farhan in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I was certain he would be the perfect protagonist for Toofaan. The best thing about him is that he does not act the part, but lives it completely. Toofaan is a story that will motivate and inspire all of us to get out of comfort zones and fight towards achieving our dreams. We cannot wait to present our film to viewers across the globe!"

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment too released a statement about Toofaan's release on Amazon Prime Video saying, "With Toofaan, we are presenting an inspirational sports drama that presents the story of a goon from the streets of Dongri set against the backdrop of boxing, his fall and triumphant comeback against all odds in life. Excel Entertainment in association with ROMP Pictures is very thrilled to announce this special film. Our long-standing partnership with Amazon Prime Video has been brilliant and Toofaan is yet another exciting chapter and association for us at a global level."

Toofaan revolves around the sport of boxing in which Farhan plays the role of a boxer and has him cast alongside Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. Produced jointly by ROMP Pictures and Excel Entertainment, the film has music by the Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy trio, with Raju Singh handling the background score, followed by Jay Oza for the cinematography and Anand Subaya taking care of the editing.