The Legend of Maula Jat Poster | Photo credit: @bilal_lashari/Instagram
The Pakistani blockbuster The legend of Maula Jatstarring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khanwill not be released in the Indian state of Punjab on Wednesday as previously announced, the film’s distributor confirmed on Tuesday.
Nadeem Mandviwalla said PTI that an Indian ministry had obtained a stay order from a court against the film’s release.
He said that although he has the exclusive rights to distribute the film in Pakistan, he knows that the company that holds the international rights with Zee India has collaborated to make the film possible in Punjab, India.
“Unfortunately, its issuance has been suspended again and nobody can do anything until the court takes its decision,” Mandvivala said.
Mandviwalla, one of Pakistan’s top distributors, exhibitors and cinema owners, said that whenever the film’s release in India is possible, it will be a big step forward for the Pakistani industry.
“I’m pretty sure given the quality and effort that went into making the film and its brilliant cast, Maula Jat will be a big hit in Indian Punjab,” he added.
After the announcement of the film’s release in Punjab, India, there was opposition from some parties, politicians and others, and Mandiwala felt that it was because of this that the authorities concerned approached the court.
On 18 September, the film’s director Bilal Lashari announced that the film would be released in the Indian state of Punjab by Zee Studios in association with Zindagi, which also brought Fawad back to audiences in India with his last show Barzakh.
India banned the export of Indian films to Pakistan after the Pulwama incident in 2019, and the government of Pakistan responded by also banning the screening of Indian films in the country.
The last Pakistani film released in India was in 2011 He was starring Humaima Malik and Atif Aslam in lead roles.
The ban severely damaged the Pakistani film industry, as distributors and owners of multiplexes and single-screen theaters relied heavily on Bollywood films before the ban, with several Indian films earning millions for the industry after doing good business in Pakistan.
When it was released two years ago, The legend of Maula Jat did record business for a Pakistani film, minting around 400 crores of Pakistani rupees domestically and internationally.
Published – October 02, 2024, 1:28 PM IST
