Entertainment
The Legend of Maula Jatt Release in India Threatened by Extremist Group MNS
The highly anticipated Pakistani film The Legend of Maula Jatt, slated for release in India on October 2, has once again encountered opposition from Indian political factions. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a prominent extremist party in India, has vowed to block the film’s release.
Ameya Khopkar, president of MNS’ cinema wing and a well-known film producer, firmly opposed the movie’s release, stating, “We will not allow the release of Pakistani films, nor will we allow their artists to work in Indian films.”
This is not the first time the film has faced resistance. Originally scheduled for release in 2022, The Legend of Maula Jatt was met with a similar response from the MNS. At the time, Khopkar took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his discontent, writing, “There are plans to release Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s Pakistani film The Legend of Maula Jatt in India. It is most infuriating that an Indian company is leading this plan.”
Khopkar, following the directives of MNS Chairperson Raj Thackeray, emphasized that they would not permit the film’s release anywhere in India. In a follow-up tweet, he criticized Fawad Khan’s Indian fans, calling them “traitors” and suggesting they should travel to Pakistan to watch the film.
Despite the film’s global success and growing popularity, The Legend of Maula Jatt, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, continues to face hurdles in India due to ongoing political tensions between the two nations. The opposition from MNS highlights the challenges that Pakistani films and artists encounter in India, even as the film industry seeks to bridge cultural divides.
