Pakistani film ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’ was scheduled to release in India on December 30, but according to sources, it was postponed due to fear of opposition from various quarters. Bilal Lashari’s film, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, released on October 13, has been very successful in Pakistan.

Mumbai/New Delhi: The release of Pakistani film ‘The Legend of Maula Jatt’, which was scheduled to be released in India on Friday 30 December, has been postponed in India. The film stars Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, who are also very popular in India.

An official of cinema chain INOX said the film’s release is likely to have been postponed indefinitely.

“The distributors have informed us that the release of the film has been postponed. We were given this information two-three days ago. No further date has been shared with us.”

report A source associated with the film industry said that the release of the film was stalled due to opposition from some sections. On the other hand, another source familiar with the matter said on the cine website. Bollywood uproar “Zee Studios had already secured clearance for The Legend of Maula Jatt from the Central Board of Film Certification. But on Monday, the CBFC called back the film.”

According to the website, it is not yet clear whether the censor certificate given to The Legend of Maula Jatt has been revoked.

Directed by Bilal Lashari, The Legend of Maula Jatt is similar to the 1979 classic film ‘Maula Jatt’. However, according to the makers of the film, it is neither a remake nor a sequel. Released in Pakistan on October 13, the film is the highest grossing Pakistani film at the box office so far.

According to a PTI source, “Zee Studios had acquired the rights of the film as they were expecting the film to do well. But due to opposition from some sections, it was decided not to release the film.”

Multiplex chain PVR Cinemas had earlier last week shared the India release date of the film on its official Instagram page but it was later deleted.

Rajendra Singh Ziala, chief programming officer of INOX Leisure Ltd, told PTI last week that the film will be screened in some theatres in Punjab and Delhi, which have Punjabi-speaking people.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena cinema wing president Amey Khopkar said on Twitter on Saturday that the release of the film has been stopped following a warning from the party. He wrote, “… The screening of The Legend of Maula Jatt has been completely cancelled…”

Actress Mahira Khan and actor Fawad are very popular among the Indian audience due to their popular Pakistani drama ‘Humsafar’. Fawad, who was recently seen in the superhero series ‘Miss Marvel’, has starred in Bollywood’s Beautiful, Kapoor & Sons, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, while Mahira has worked in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees.

The last Pakistani film to hit the theatres in India was Mahira Khan’s “Bol” in 2011. Earlier in 2008, Ramchand Pakistani starring Nandita Das and Rashid Farooqui was released. Before that, in 2007, ‘Khuda Ke Liye’, which also included Fawad Khan along with Naseeruddin Shah, came out.

Pakistani actors have stopped taking them to Indian films since the 2016 Uri terror attack, in which 19 Indian Army personnel were killed. However, there is no official trade restriction on goods coming from Pakistan.

(with input from news agency language)

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