Indian audiences who want to see Deepa Mehta's Water will have to wait a little longer.

"The negatives of films have not arrived yet and the release of the film will be delayed," said Sanjay Bhutani, business head of BR Films, which is distributing the film in India.

Rather than a release date of 23 February, the film will be released on 2 March or 9 March.

The Oscars will go out on 25 Feburary, if Water does bag the Best Foreign Language Film award, it will no doubt help its box-office prospects in India.

"The nomination to Oscars has already helped us in the marketing of the film," said Bhutani.

"I am sitting with my team to chalk up a strategy on releasing Water across India. Obviously, the film will not have a release like Dhoom: 2 -- or for that matter Baabul too -- because it is a different kind of film. I will however want maximum number of people in India to watch this film because of its great content," added Bhutani.

BR Films acquired distribution rights in India for Water long before it was nominated as Canada's official entry for the Oscars.