Ahead of the Indian release of the 2022 Pakistani blockbuster ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ on October 2, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has announced that the film will not be allowed to release in Maharashtra. Thackeray warned theatre owners of potential consequences if they screen the film.

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?…

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— Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) September 22, 2024

In a tweet in Marathi, Thackeray acknowledged that while art may have no borders, this sentiment does not apply to Pakistani actors working in India. He specifically mentioned Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who stars in the film, and asked why movies featuring Pakistani actors are allowed to be released in India.

MNS’s Stand Against Pakistani Films

Thackeray strongly opposed the release of the movie, asserting that “Pakistani actors will not be allowed” to work or have their films showcased in India, particularly Maharashtra. He added that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure the film isn’t screened anywhere in the country, not just Maharashtra.

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The MNS leader referenced past incidents where his party took action against theatres screening Pakistani films and issued a warning, urging theatre owners not to test the party’s stance. He reminded everyone of MNS’s earlier campaigns against Pakistani films and warned of a repeat of those actions if theatres disobeyed the party’s request.

Concerns Over Conflict During Navratri

Thackeray also expressed concerns about potential conflict during the upcoming Navratri festival, which coincides with the film’s scheduled release. He urged peace, noting that both the state’s leadership and the MNS want to avoid any unrest during the festival period.

Background on ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’

‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, was released in Pakistan in 2022, where it became a massive hit, earning over ₹400 crore globally. The movie is a remake of the 1979 classic ‘Maula Jatt’ and is being distributed in India by Zee Studios in collaboration with Zindagi. If released, it would be the first Pakistani film to hit Indian theatres in 13 years, since ‘Bol’ in 2011.

Following the 2016 Uri terror attack, Pakistani artists were banned from working in India. While a plea to impose a complete ban on Pakistani artists was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2022, tensions surrounding such releases remain high.

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