MUMBAI: The release of Ekta Kapoor‘s Shootout at Wadala has been postponed for 1 May next year.

This is the second time that release of the film, co-produced and directed by Sanjay Gupta, has been postponed. Earlier, it was scheduled to release on 7 December this year but it was pushed to 25 January, 2013 to avoid a clash with Aamir Khan‘s Talaash, that is scheduled to release on November 30.

Looking at the release of the Anil Kapoor and John Abraham-starrer Race 2 early January, the film‘s release has been pushed further to May, it is understood.

"When I recently saw the rushes of the film I was blown away. It was so engaging and a powerful film. With its content and massive star cast, topped by the marketing push that Balaji team will give...we needed a five-day long weekend for Shootout at Wadala," producer Ekta Kapoor said in a statement.

The makers are banking on the theme of the film which is based on the life of Maharashtrian labourer Manya Surve (played by John Abraham), who became involved in the first ever police encounter in the country.

Shootout at Wadala, which is a prequel to the 2007 hit film Shootout at Lokhandwala, stars John Abraham as gangster Manya Surve while Anil Kapoor plays the role of police officer named Issac Bagwan. It also stars Tusshar Kapoor, Sonu Sood, Manoj Bajpai, Ronit Roy, Kangana Ranuat and others.