Pakistan cinema halls may lift ban on Indian films
ISLAMABAD: The release of Fawad Khan’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in India this week may help end a ban imposed by Pakistani exhibitors on the screening of Indian films, according to industry sources.
The self-imposed ban on Indian movies was to have been lifted this week but last-minute developments, including a terror attack in Quetta that killed 60 people and was blamed by some in Pakistan on Indian elements, led to the postponement of a decision.
Industry sources confirmed that local exhibitors are suffering heavy losses because of the ban that was imposed after the Indian Motion Pictures Artists y cinema owners, 60 to 75 rupees have been earned from Indian films.
ISLAMABAD: The release of Fawad Khan’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in India this week may help end a ban imposed by Pakistani exhibitors on the screening of Indian films, according to industry sources.
The self-imposed ban on Indian movies was to have been lifted this week but last-minute developments, including a terror attack in Quetta that killed 60 people and was blamed by some in Pakistan on Indian elements, led to the postponement of a decision. Industry sources confirmed that local exhibitors are suffering heavy losses because of the ban that was imposed after the Indian Motion Pictures Artists Association (IMPAA) barred Pakistani actors and technicians from working in Indian films. Film writer Hasan Zaidi said revenue from Indian films accounted for between 60% and 75% of box office revenues in Pakistan over the past three years. “For every 100 rupees earned by cinema owners, 60 to 75 rupees have been earned from Indian films. This is simply a function of the volume of Indian films being released,” he said.
In such a situation, there is immense pressure on cinemas to resume screening Indian movies.
Pakistani cinema owners have said their ban was only a response to the Indian film industry’s actions and because Pakistan’s “honour” was at stake after actors such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar were forced to return from India.