COEAI refuses screening of Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

Karan Johar's multi-starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) is in troubled waters, as members of the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) have decided to not screen films featuring Pakistani actors, in all the single screen theatres. The move made in lieu of the Uri attacks, will be implemented in Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Gujarat, has cost ADHM more than what Johar had anticipated for Fawad Khan's role in it. Speaking on the move, Nitin Datar of the association said that the decision has been taken keeping in mind the public sentiments over the past few months.The move, however is contradictory with the decision of IMPPA (Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association) taken last month for the same reason.  

Though IMPPA had banned Pakistanis from working in Indian movies, they had requested the release of already made movies, as denial of their release would affect the Indian producers and distributors. The nation witnessed terror attacks at Uri a few months ago, in which 19 soldiers were killed. This was retaliated through surgical attacks targeting terrorist areas, by the Indian Army. With such tensed situations between India and Pakistan, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai and Anushka Sharma, scheduled to be released on October 28, 2016 is facing a tough time, days before its release. This move will also now impact the release of the Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees which has Mahira Khan, a Pakistani actress and Imtiaz Ali's Dear Zindagi which stars Pakistani actor Ali Zafar. 

It is to be noted that Karan's debut directorial Kuch Kuch Hota Hai faced a similar situation when theatre owners refused to screen the movie citing a derogatory scene targeting the Sikh community. The scene was later removed from the movie. His 2010 venture My Name Is Khan also faced a screening ban when the lead actor Shah Rukh Khan let out a statement that Pakistani players should be allowed to play in the IPL. Both the movies went on to become blockbusters.