Shah Rukh Khan might be on cloud nine thanks to the money his film Raees is earning in India, but the news from the neighbouring country is not so pleasant. Raees, which was supposed to have been released in Pakistan on February 10, has been declared unfit for viewing in the country, say sources.
Pakistani journalist Yusra Askari tweeted, “#Raees ‘declared unfit for public exhibition across the country’, say sources. #Pakistan”
#Raees 'declared unfit for public exhibition across the country', say sources. #Pakistan
— Yusra Askari (@YusraSAskari) February 6, 2017
Naila Inayat, another journalist too wrote the same on Twitter in a series of posts. “#Raees release is halted. Pakistan establishment thinks the movie shows Muslims in negative roles whereas Hindus are shown in positive light.”
#Raees release is halted. Pakistan establishment thinks the movie shows Muslims in negative roles whereas Hindus are shown in positive light
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 6, 2017
“SRK playing a Shia bootlegger is bothering some members of the censor board, who think that there are several ‘anti-state’ scenes in #Raees,” read another tweet from Naila.
SRK playing a Shia bootlegger is bothering some members of the censor board, who think that there are several 'anti-state' scenes in #Raees. pic.twitter.com/dwBvmqEFWC
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 6, 2017
A few hours ago, Naila also wrote, “Meanwhile, a full board of central board of film censors is meeting today for a final verdict on the release of Raees.”
Meanwhile, a full board of central board of film censors is meeting today for a final verdict on the release of Raees.
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) February 6, 2017
The fact that Raees is not being released in Pakistan makes it easier for Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam-starrer Kaabil to get a clear window at the box office. Kaabil hit the screens in Pakistan February 3, two weeks after both the films were released in India.
Kaabil was the first Indian film to be released in India post Pakistan’s ban on Bollywood films following the events that happened after the September 18 Uri attacks and India’s decision to not cast Pakistani actors or musicians in our films.
Pakistani actor Mahira Khan, who plays the lead role opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees, said at the film’s success bash in Mumbai, “You don’t understand how much we wanted this (lifting of the ban on Indian films) to happen. Raees is a big film and everyone was asking me about it (release). Everyone was waiting.”
“It is releasing in Pakistan and everyone was waiting for it to release here like anywhere else across the world. It will do amazing in Pakistan,” Mahira addressed the people present at the interaction via video conferencing.
Shah Rukh plays a character based on Gujarati bootlegger-turned-don Abdul Latif. His Raees Alam is a Shia. Pakistan’s Sunni-majority is said to have swayed the favour against Raees, a film that has a Shia hero. The censor board in Pakistan is also said to have ruled that Raees shows Muslims in a negative light.
However, Raees, directed by Rahul Dholakia, has both Hindu and Muslim characters shown in an equally positive and negative light. Raees not releasing in Pakistan will ensure that Hrithik Roshan’s Kaabil, directed by Sanjay Gupta, is likely to cross the total collection of Raees in the days to come. The two films are currently neck to neck at the box office in India.
