Cinema owners decide to stop screening of Indian films

LAHORE (92 News) – The cinema owners across Pakistan while showing their support with country’s armed forces have on Friday decided to stop screening of Indian films. The cinema operators took the decision after the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) banned all Pakistani artists from working in film projects in India. The cinema owners added that the ban should continue until the Indian government offers Pakistani films a level playing field and Pakistani artists complete protection. Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, Vice President, IMPPA said that: "The members of IMPPA have decided that Pakistani actors and technicians can't be allowed to work in India till matters settle down." However, he clarified that this decision will be applicable only for new projects. This resolution, which will be officially passed on Friday, is the second such directive after the political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) gave an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave India, and even threatened the release of films featuring Pakistani actors. The ripple effect of the current Indo-Pak tensions is being felt in Bollywood corridors. The release of at least two upcoming films — 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees' — is in jeopardy and Pakistani distributors have responded by boycotting the much-hyped biopic of Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, which hits screens tomorrow.