Theatres won’t screen films with Pak actors, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in trouble

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan starrer 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' trouble continues, exhibitors decide not to release the film.

Mumbai: In the wake of Uri terror attacks, Cinema Owners & Exhibitors Association of India have decided to not release Karan Johar's upcoming film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' which stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

On Friday, the association held their third meeting to decide the fate of Karan Johar's upcoming film. After a long session, Nitin Dattar, the president of Cinema Owners & Exhibitors Association, announced that they will not be releasing Indian films that feature Pakistani actors.

-"We have decided that we will not screen these films with Pakistani actors,-" said Nitin Dattar.

After the Uri attacks that saw 18 Indian soldiers losing their lives to terrorism, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had given a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave the country or get ready to be kicked out, forcing actors like Fawad Khan to fly back to Pakistan.

In an interview, Raj Thackeray had said, “We have asked the theatres to not release their movie, we must teach them a lesson, the producers are more at fault than those artists.”

Earlier, it was reported that the makers were planning to swap Fawad's face with Saif Ali Khan's. However, later the maker quashed the rumours by saying that they will not be replacing Fawad Khan in the film.

Things got messier when Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) announced a ban on Pakistani artists and technicians for an indefinite period until normalcy returns.

After many Indian artistes voiced their opinions on the issue, Pakistani actors such as Fawad Khan, Mawra Hocane and Mahira Khan also broke their silence. While Fawad's statement was slammed for being diplomatic, Mawra and Mahira openly condemned the terror attack.

(This story originally appeared on Deccan Chronicle)