The release of the Pakistani blockbuster The Legend of Maula Jatt in India has been thrown into uncertainty amid growing opposition from certain groups. The film, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, has received widespread global acclaim, but plans to release it in select parts of India have sparked protests.
According to reports from ANI, opposition to the film’s release centers around the ongoing ban on Indian films in Pakistan, which has been in place since 2019. Amey Khopkar, President of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Wing, expressed strong objections, stating, “We will not entertain any Pakistani film or actors in India. If this movie is released, there will be a strong agitation.”
He added that the opposition is in honor of Indian soldiers, questioning why Pakistani actors are being featured when India has its own talent.
Long-standing ban on Pakistani artists in India continues
The pushback follows a long-standing ban on Pakistani actors and artists participating in Indian projects, a policy that was enforced after the Uri attacks in 2016. Although both Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have previously made their Bollywood debuts—Khan in Khoobsurat (2014) and Mahira Khan in Raees (2017)—the release of a Pakistani film in India remains a sensitive issue.
The Legend of Maula Jatt, a reboot of the 1979 classic, is a high-octane action film focusing on the rivalry between folk hero Maula Jatt, played by Fawad Khan, and the brutal clan leader Noori Natt, portrayed by Hamza Ali Abbasi. The film, which premiered in Pakistan on October 13, 2022, has become one of the highest-grossing Pakistani films to date.
