Bad News For ADHM, Raees: Films With Pak Actors Won’t Be Screened

Things just got a bit more worse for ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and ‘Raees’.

According to news reports, The Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India has decided to not screen any film that features Pakistani artistes or involves Pakistani technicians. As of now, this decision is applicable to single screens in the four states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka only. This ban will serve as a big blow to Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees.

This decision of not screening films featuring Pakistani artistes has not been taken under any political pressure, but keeping the current public sentiment in mind and this decision stands till the situation between India and Pakistan improves.

Nitin Datar, Cinema Owners Association

The decision follows the recent ban placed by the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association on Pakistani artistes from working in Indian films, in any capacity whatsoever.

Also Read: Film Producers Ban Pak Artistes & Technicians Till Peace Restores

While Bollywood stands divided on linking art with politics, in the aftermath of the Uri attack and India’s surgical strike along the LoC, this decision is likely to work against the interest of filmmakers, who have already invested in talent from across the border.

Also Read: Bollywood Is Divided Over the Pakistani Artistes’ Ban