MNS refuses IMPPA's request to allow release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil; will Karan Johar's film get delayed?

Amid the controversy surrounding the banning of Pakistani artistes in India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) has approached the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders requesting them to allow the release of Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees, both of which feature Pakistani actors.

However, an ANI report said that the MNS, which has been protesting against the release of these films, has refused to do so, saying it is no longer a protest fuelled by the MNS but rather the will of the common Indians.

Last week, IMPPA passed a resolution to temporarily ban Pakistani artistes from working in India following the Uri terror attack that led to the death of 20 Indian Army jawans. However, the association has no objection to the release of the completed films featuring Pakistani actors.

Soon after imposition of the ban, the Raj Thackeray led-MNS issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave India. To this, Karan Johar extended his support to the Pakistani actors, saying that they should not be prohibited from working in India. The filmmaker's statement led to a protest and MNS workers raised slogans against Pakistani artists outside the production house of Karan Johar.

"We strongly condemn Karan Johar's point of view that banning Pakistani actors and artists would not solve the problem of terrorism. How can he give such an immature and a shallow statement? Our party workers will not allow the release of his film come what may," Thackeray claimed, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

It now remains to be seen if the political party finally allows a smooth release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which is scheduled to hit the theatres on October 28, or will it be pushed to another date.