Indian politician Raj Thackeray has warned against the release of Pakistan’s blockbuster film The Legend of Maula Jatt in Maharashtra, according to reports. It is scheduled to be released on October 2 in the Punjab region.
The action movie, featuring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, marks the first Pakistani release in India in more than a decade after Shoaib Mansoor’s Bol. But reports said the film would only be screened in Mumbai.
The TLMJ has already achieved massive success in Pakistan and internationally, holding the record as the highest-grossing Pakistani and Punjabi-language film. It is a modern adaptation of the 1979 classic, featuring a fierce rivalry between the characters Maula Jatt and Noori Natt, portrayed by Fawad Khan and Hamza Ali Abbasi, respectively.
The film was earlier planned for a December 2022 release in India but faced opposition from Hindu far-right groups and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), leading to the cancellation of the release.
Following the international success, speculation is that a leading Indian production house, possibly Zee Studios, was planning to release the film in India on September 20, 2024.
In a statement regarding the film’s release, Thackeray expressed strong disapproval, asserting that no state in India should allow it to be shown.
“Art does not have national borders, which is acceptable in many cases, but not when it comes to Pakistan. This sets a dangerous precedent, bringing actors here to promote films amid rising anti-India sentiments. The government should prohibit this film from being screened anywhere in the country,” he said.
“What other states choose to do is their concern, but this movie will definitely not be released here,” Thackeray said and stressed the need for avoiding any potential conflict during the Navratri festival when the film is scheduled to premiere. He warned that his political party, MNS, would take action if the movie screens in the state.
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Ameya Khopkar, the MNS Cinema Wing president, backed Thackeray’s position. “This movie will not be released and we will not allow any Pakistani actors or films in India. Cinemas that choose to show the film will face consequences,” he told ANI.
