According to a decision made by the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) on October 14, single-screen theatres across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka will not be screening Ae Dil Hai Mushkil because of issues pertaining to “national sentiments and security”. The decision has been panned by several film industry figures such as Om Puri, Piyush Mishra and Vikram Bhatt.
Now, controversy’s favourite child, Deshdrohi actor Kamaal Rashid Khan (KRK) has come forward to share his mind on the entire fracas. He has called COEAI’s decision a “conspiracy” by “BJP darlings.”
Earlier, KRK had been targeted by Ajay Devgn for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from Karan Johar to badmouth Ajay’s film Shivaay which is releasing on the same day as Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Kamaal spoke up in favour of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ on Friday after COEAI announced that ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ won’t release in single screen theatres in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, due to the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in it.
Condemning the decision made by COEAI, Kamaal tweeted: “These cinema owners are cowards who are trying to harass film makers. It’s a big conspiracy by some BJP darlings.”
These cinema owners are cowards who are trying to harass film makers. It’s a big conspiracy by some BJP darlings. https://t.co/m4O1XC0nVw
— KRK (@kamaalrkhan) October 14, 2016
He further added:
“All officials of Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) should be kicked on their a** if they will ever lift this ban again.”
“Ban on films of Pakistani artists is only to stop release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ so that ‘Shivaay’ can get solo release and I think it’s bad way to get solo release.”
The Big Boss 3 participant also said, “If you trust your work and your film, then you don’t need to stop release of someone’s film to get solo release. Instead you should compete at box office.”
The decision of the COEAI comes in the wake of the terror attacks at Uri, Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 which led to the death of 19 Indian soldiers. This was followed by the Indian Army conducting surgical strikes in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), thereby demolishing terrorist camps.
Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has however been cleared for release by the Central Bureau of Film Certification (CBFC). It has been certified UA.