Bengaluru: Although the Supreme Court has permitted the release of the film Thug Life in Karnataka, its theatrical release in the state now appears highly unlikely — largely due to the lack of interest from local distributors.

The film, which was released across India (except Karnataka) on June 5, has received an underwhelming response from audiences and critics alike. Despite being mounted on a massive budget of Rs 300 crore, the film has reportedly struggled to cross even Rs 50 crore in earnings.

Venktesh, who initially held the distribution rights for Karnataka, is now unwilling to release the film in the state. According to sources, he has backed out due to the fear of incurring further losses on a film already labelled as a box-office flop.

Distributors are wary of burning their fingers on a movie that has been branded a commercial failure elsewhere, making a Karnataka release improbable.