Cinema owners association bans films with Pak artistes

TIL Desk Bollywood/ Amid growing demand for a ban on Pakistani artistes, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) on Friday decided not to release movies starring actors from Pakistan in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.

This announcement puts an uncertainty on the release of Karan Johar’s “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil”, which sees Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a supporting role and is slated to arrive in theatres this Diwali.  Addressing the media, COEAI’s president Nitin Datar said that the decision was not taken under any political pressure, but rather, keeping public sentiment in mind.

“Today, the meeting of Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India took place and it was decided that keeping in mind the patriotic feelings and the national interest of our country, we request all our members and exhibitors to refrain from screening movies which have involvement of any Pakistani artist, technicians, directors, music directors etc,” Datar said. “We are also in the process of requesting other associations connected with the film industry to support the sentiments in the best interest of our nation.”