Pakistan condemned featuring Indian movies in their theaters following the Uri attacks that took place in October.
Reconsidering the markets rapid decline and huge drop, Pakistan made a step forward lifting the ban on Indian movies.
Meanwhile, minimal protests and debates were carried out in Indian media and streets on banning the movies like ‘Raees’ and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil‘ that are featuring the Pakistan stars, Fawad Khan and Mahira Ali.
Zoraish Lashari, Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association chairman stated that “Cinema business has been hit immensely and all stakeholders felt it was the right time to begin screening Indian films. It was always a self-imposed suspension, not a ban. So I’ll be releasing Freaky Ali in our cinemas and other cinema owners will follow suit.”
“The suspension that was in place will be lifted on December 19,” confirmed Nadeem Mandviwala of Atrium cinemas.
Nadeem added that the movies which were missed and could not be screened due to the suspension will be screened first.
“We lifted the suspension as a cinema guild. We took this decision because we would like to support them (Indian cinemas) and expect them to support us,” said Aadil Mandviwala, Director Mandviwala Entertainment.
“It takes two hands to clap, it does not matter if one hand is bigger or smaller. At the end of the day, it’s the clapping that counts. This is the message that we want India to hear,” added Aadil.
The first movie which came in the self-imposed ban period was filmmaker Karan Johar’s directed ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’.
Meanwhile, the first movie that’ll be featured after the lift ban will be ‘Freaky Ali’.