The makers of Salman Khan’s Tubelight want the film to release in Pakistan, where the Bollywood superstar enjoys huge popularity.
Amar Butala, Chief Operating Officer, Salman Khan Films, and co-producer of Tubelight, said in a statement: “Salman has a huge following in Pakistan, which has only grown with the positive message in Bajrangi Bhaijaan,” he said in a statement.
“We hope to release Tubelight in Pakistan as well, and our efforts continue in that direction, but we respect the law of the land and judiciary if they decide otherwise,” he added.
According to sources in Pakistan, the distributor for the film is still to be finalised.
“Until yesterday, the distributor in our territory had not been finalised. We already have two major Pakistani films, as well as Pirates of Caribbean, Transformers and The Mummy announced.
“There are limited screens and most of them committed for Eid programming. It’s totally untrue that Tubelight is banned in Pakistan. In fact, it remains a much-awaited film,” Satish Anand, a key distributor of Indian films in Pakistan, told over social media.
The two local movies scheduled for an Eid release in Pakistan are Yalghaar and Shor Sharaba.
Even Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censors chief Mobasher Hasan said, “It’s the distributor’s choice to import any foreign film.”
But is there scope for Tubelight in Pakistan after Eid?
“Yes, if it clears the censor,” Anand said, adding: “Mind you, it will be available online, and cable during this time.”
His hint was towards the “huge problem” of piracy that Indian films continue to face across the border.
Tubelight, directed by Kabir Khan, dwells on the 1962 border conflict between India and China. The film, releasing later this month, also features a song by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.