Pakistan Film Producers Association Chairman Syed Noor severely criticized the lift of Bollywood movies starting from today, 19th December. The film being screened from today is Freaky Ali , a 2016 romantic comedy. The cast includes Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Arbaaz Khan and Amy Jackson.
Syed Noor said, “It’s a commercial move devoid of any patriotism. When the government has officially banned the Indian content why are the exhibitors not realising this fact. There is no uniform policy. I want to know who put a ban on the screening of Indian movies and who lifted it.”
Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association Chairman Zoraiz Lashari confirmed that the Bollywood films would be screening from today. “It’s a unanimous decision made with the consent of other exhibitors and film stakeholders.”
According to film circles, the cinema owners across Pakistan have suffered about Rs 150 million loss and some 100 employees lost their jobs since the non-screening of Indian movies.
On the other hand, the Filmmaker, actor and director Javed Sheikh said; “It’s very simple. Whichever film would have potential either Indian or Pakistani, it would get shows at cinemas.”
“Karachi film industry is producing quality movies. I am working on my new film Wajood. I won’t mind if any big banner Indian film is screened against mine,” Javed Sheikh further stated.
