Raj Thackeray warns theatres against releasing Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's film
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has issued a strong warning against the release of the Pakistani film The Legend of Maula Jatt in Maharashtra. This warning comes ahead of the film’s scheduled release in India on October 2, 2024.
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MNS Will Not Allow Release of Pakistani Film
In a tweet, Raj Thackeray made it clear that The Legend of Maula Jatt, which stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to release in Maharashtra. He questioned why films featuring Pakistani actors are being released in India, given the ban on Pakistani artists working in the country.
फवाद खान नावाच्या पाकिस्तानी अभिनेत्याचा, 'लिजेंड ऑफ मौला जट' नावाचा सिनेमा लवकरच भारतात प्रदर्शित होणार आहे. महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेना हा सिनेमा कुठल्याही परिस्थितीत महाराष्ट्रात प्रदर्शित होऊ देणार नाही. पाकिस्तानी कलाकारांचे सिनेमे मुळात भारतात प्रदर्शित का होऊ दिले जातात?…
— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) September 22, 2024
Art Has No Borders, But Exceptions for Pakistani Actors
Thackeray acknowledged the saying, "art has no borders," but said that it doesn't apply in the case of Pakistani actors. He urged the government to prevent the release of the film, not only in Maharashtra but across the entire country.
Warning to Theatre Owners
Raj Thackeray also warned theatre owners not to screen the film. He reminded them of the MNS's previous actions when similar issues arose and asked them to avoid getting into trouble by showing the movie. He stated, "We don't want any conflict, especially with the Navratri festival approaching."
Background of The Legend of Maula Jatt
The Legend of Maula Jatt was released in Pakistan in 2022 and became a huge hit, earning over ₹400 crore globally. The film, which stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, is a remake of the 1979 cult classic Maula Jatt. Zee Studios, in collaboration with Zindagi, is bringing the movie to India. This would be the first Pakistani film to be released in India in 13 years, with the last one being Bol in 2011.
Pakistani Artists Banned Since 2016 Uri Attack
Since the 2016 Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani artists have been banned from working in India. Although there was a Supreme Court plea for a complete ban, it was dismissed in November last year.
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