All the speculations regarding Mausam's release getting delayed were put to rest by Shahid Kapoor today at a press conference held in Mumbai. The much awaited Shahid-Sonam starrer which was scheduled to release this week on September 16 has been pushed by a week to September 23.

Shahid who plays the lead in Mausam said, "The release date has been shifted to September 23. We needed a NOC from IAF and Censor Certificate, we got a 'U' certificate and then the board wanted to see the film once again. This consumed a lot of time delaying the release date. We have made the required changes in the particular 30 seconds scene". The actor further added, "It was very important to announce this. Our team believes in our film and we feel that it is as authentic as it could be, we want to bring the best for our audiences."

Pankaj Kapur's maiden directorial venture Mausam starring Shahid Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor has been in the eye of a storm ever since the Indian Air Force (IAF) objected to a 30 second aerial action sequence. Even though the Censor Board for Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared the film, the makers are yet to get a NOC from the IAF.

With the film's release due on this Friday (16th Sept), the makers are in a spot of bother and have hence arranged for a special screening for the top IAF officers and heads in Delhi today. The screening will take place at FDA Mahadev Road, Delhi at 14:30 hrs IST today and in all probability both Shahid Kapoor and Pankaj Kapur are likely to be present.

Shahid Kapoor says working on 'Mausam', his father Pankaj Kapoor's directorial debut, forced him to get out of his comfort zone as an actor.The actor, who took a year and half off from other projects to concentrate on the love-story set in the recent past, says he learnt some of the most valuable lessons in filmmaking by observing his father on the sets.

“He (Pankaj) pushed me a lot as an actor. When I signed up the film I knew that I wanted to learn and unlearn certain things. I mean, every actor has a comfort zone and knows that there are certain things which people like about him and he plays on them. I wanted to get out of that and 'Mausam' helped me do that,” said Shahid.

“We are extremely disappointed that the studio has informed us that the film will not have received the necessary regulatory approvals in India, forcing us to cancel all screenings of Mausam,” said Cameron Bailey, Co-Director of the Festival. “Toronto audiences have been powerful champions for the promotion and growth of Indian cinema abroad and it’s a shame that our Festival audiences will be left disappointed.”

The Toronto International Film Festival® received word yesterday that the studio, Eros International Media Limited, has a memorandum of understanding in place with the Indian Air Force, giving them final approval on the film prior to clearing the Indian censor board. That approval will not be possible prior to Wednesday's scheduled world premiere screening. As a result, all screenings of the film will be cancelled.

Demanding changes in a fight sequence, the Indian Air Fore held back the no objection certificate for Pankaj Kapoor's September 16 release Mausam (Mumbai Mirror, September 9, 2011). However the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has given a green signal to the film, bypassing the IAF's demands. On Tuesday, September 13, the film will be issued a censor certificate regardless of IAF's objections.

When contacted, the chief executive officer of the censor board, Ms Pankaj Thakur said, "The CBFC has nothing to do with the so-called NOC. We're given to understand that the Air Force wants certain cuts in the film as per an MOU signed between the producer and the Air Force. The CBFC was not a party to any such agreement."