It seems Shah Rukh Khan's "Chennai Express" has received green signal from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) after director Rohit Shetty met Raj Thackeray over the threat by the outfit's film wing to obstruct the release of the much-awaited film.
The MNS had earlier threatened to disrupt the release of "Chennai Express" in Maharashtra, alleging that the makers of the film were demanding prime slots in single theatres, which would affect the collection of Marathi film, "Duniyadari".
Sensing a possible trouble, Rohit Shetty has reportedly met MNS chief Raj Thackeray and made it clear that they didn't force theatres to allot prime slots for "Chennai Express". They also had reportedly agreed to share show time between the films.
Amey Khopkar, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (film wing) had earlier told IANS: "If the producers of 'Chennai Express' attempt to dislodge any of the ongoing or forthcoming Marathi movies, we shall not tolerate it and deal with it in MNS style."
Khopkar added that they will not let "Chennai Express" affect the business of Marathi film, "Duniyadari", which is doing well at the box office since its release on 19 July. They have also written to theatre owners not to pull down "Duniyadari" for Shah Rukh Khan's film.
Meanwhile, the exhibitors are in dilemma as single screen theatres have agreed to screen "Chennai Express". "Exhibitors are in a fix. The only alternative I can see is distribution of the shows between Marathi film and Chennai Express," Vice president of cinema owners association Nitin Datar told Times of India.
"Chennai Express", made on a budget of ₹900 million, is an action-comedy film directed by Rohit Shetty and produced by Gauri Khan under Red Chillies Entertainment banner. It features Shah Rukh and Deepika Padukone in the lead roles, It is their second film together after "Om Shanti Om".
