Hours after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued a veiled threat of vandalism to multiplex owners if they decide to screen ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, the film’s producers have knocked on the doors of Joint Police Commissioner for protection.
The latest coming in is that President of Film & Television Producers Guild of India Mukesh Bhatt and Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios (which is distributing ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’) are currently in talks with the Joint Commissioner of Police in Mumbai.
On October 14, the Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) decided to stall the release of ‘ADHM’ in single screens across Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat, owing to Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s presence in the film.
Late on October 17, MNS leader Amey Khopkar issued a statement saying that they will oppose the release of the film in multiplexes too.
“We will oppose the screening of the movie everywhere in the state. If any multiplex operator dares to screen the film, they (operators) should remember that multiplexes are decorated with expensive glass sheets,”he said.
“We are not here to complain. We are here to say that we are all one and let us not get fragmented. MNS is my brother, his way of thinking may differ from mine, but that’s okay. That happens in every house. So I would only appeal to my brothers in MNS to be with us, let us have peace together, let us not make the terrorists feel that he has won the battle by making us fragmented,”talking about MNS, Mukesh Bhatt said.
Meanwhile, the cops have promised protection under the current circumstances. DCP of Mumbai Police, Ashok Dudhe stated, “We, Mumbai Police, will provide adequate protection to cinema theatres as and when required.”
