Raj Thackeray Says Won't Allow Release Of Fawad Khan's Pakistani Hit In Maharashtra, Warns Theatres

'Legend of Maula Jatt' scheduled to release in India on October 2, according to director Bilal Lashari. However, movie distributor tells India Today that it will only be released in Punjab.

File photo of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray

Source : PTI

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said on Sunday that the 2022 Pakistani hit 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' will not be allowed release in Maharashtra. He also warned theatre owners against proceeding with any planned screenings. The movie is scheduled to release in India on October 2, according to a social media alert from the film's director, Bilal Lashari. However, his message suggested it was only releasing in Punjab, and the movie's distributor confirmed as much in a comment to India Today.

In a post on X in Marathi, Thackeray said the principle of art having no boundaries does not apply to Pakistani actors working in India. "Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's movie titled, 'The Legend of Maula Jatt', is going to be released in India soon. The MNS will not allow the movie to be released in Maharashtra under any circumstances. Why are films of Pakistani actors allowed to be released in India?" he said.

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

"And art has no borders, which is fine in other cases, but in the case of Pakistani actors, this will not work at all. Governments should not allow this film to be released in any state of the country, not just Maharashtra," he also said.

Raj Thackeray Warns Theatre Owners Against Screening Movie

Warning theatre owners against screening the film, he added, "Everyone will remember what MNS did when such incidents happened before."

Thackeray said his party wants to avoid any conflicts in Maharashtra, especially with the Navratri festival approaching. "Navratri festival will start around the time when this film will be released. I don't want any conflict to happen in Maharashtra. The same will not be the desire of the Chief Minister, Home Minister and Director General of Police of the state. And we don't want any conflict," he stated.

'The Legend of Maula Jatt', starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, was released in Pakistan in 2022 and became a major hit, grossing over Rs 400 crore globally. This movie is a remake of the 1979 cult classic 'Maula Jatt'.

Pakistani artistes were unofficially banned from working in India following the 2016 Uri terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. In November last year, the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a complete ban on Pakistani artistes in India.