Actor Fawad Khan thinks that the possible release of the blockbuster Pakistani movie The Legend of Maula Jatt (TLOMJ) in India could be great for the diplomacy between the two countries, however, fingers are crossed the as things are a bit heated still now between the two neighbours.

“That would be great obviously,” he said when asked about the release of his last movie in India in an interview with CNN‘s Kristie Lu Stout on Saturday. “It’s a great way and a handshake and I think you know it’s kind of like those sweets and delights we send across to one another in good times you know on occasions like Eid and Diwali.“

Earlier, it was reported that the movie would be screened in Indian Punjab theatres on December 30. But, according to Indian media, the release was stalled without any reason. TLOMJ was to be the first Pakistani film to be released in India in more than a decade after Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol.

The decision was followed by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena warning the cinema-hall owners against screening the movie. It also sent letters to various establishments, including Zee Studios, Movietime Cinema, August Entertainment and Tilak Entertainment.

Bilal Lashari’s directed movie was released on October 13 and it has so far collected more than Rs1,000 million at the Pakistani box office and $10 million worldwide. “Once again, a big thank you to team MJ and fans of TLOMJ across the world who made this film a roaring success,” he said in a tweet.

The Legend of Maula Jatt is a remake of the 1979 cult classic Maula Jatt. The cast includes Fawad and Mahira Khan, Humaima Malick, Hamza Ali Abbasi, Gohar Rasheed, Faris Shafi, and Ali Azmat.

Fawad went on to add that he had heard mixed reports about the release of the movie in India.

When asked about Pakistani films in 2022, he said that it was a big year for the local cinema. “I think with the amount of business this film has done and the kind of boundaries it pushed as far as industry’s standards and even the style of filmmaking is concerned. I think it will have a profound effect in the years to come.”

The Khuda Kay Liye actor hoped that it keeps continuing like that as it’s been a very long since the second coming for the industry and for it to reach so far across the globe.

The TLOMJ movie is the highest-grossing film from the Indian subcontinent at the UK box office in the past four years, according to British film publication Screen Daily.

MCU debut

When asked about the impact of working in Ms Marvel series on a personal level, Fawad spoke about the presentation of the partition on the big screen.

“On a personal level, well I feel that it’s always good to be reminded that you know history, where you are coming from because if it serves the purpose of keeping it grounded and focused on keeping certain traditions because it is your identity, you cannot run away from it. Even if you want to but I have seen there is a great pride to be taken in the culture of the subcontinent,” he said.

Fawad played the role of Hasan, the great-grandfather of the lead character Kamala, in the Ms Marvel. He appeared in the Time and Again episode of the series alongside Mehwish Hayat.

The partition between Pakistan and India has not been viewed much by the global audience as much, he said, adding that things got bloodier and more violent, and a lot of people made a lot of sacrifices, to find a new life for themselves.

“The migration process was very painful for all these migrants, moving across from here to there so representing that, being part of that and history being told. Obviously, this is popular media, so it is though not completely but being a part of that process is always grounding is always moving.”