ADHM makers get assurances from Centre, Maha CM

The makers of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil including Karan Johar were on Thursday assured both by the Centre and Maharashtra government that no one will be allowed to stall the upcoming release of the Bollywood film that is facing threat from the MNS for featuring a Pakistani actor.

The assurance was given by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during separate meetings with Johar and a delegation of the film fraternity that included its producer.

The film, that features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo role, ran into trouble after Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) said they won’t allow release of any movie in India that featured Pakistani artistes. It is due for release on October 28, ahead of Diwali.

Film & Television Producers Guild of India president Mukesh Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Dharma Productions, which is behind Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, led a film fraternity delegation and met Singh in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the film.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bhatt said they decided to meet the Home Minister as there is a sense of “fear” and the law and order situation especially in Mumbai is going out of control.

“We requested him to give us assurance along with the chief minister of the state that law and order will be intact and our movie ‘ADHM’ which is releasing on October 28 should not face any difficulty.

“They have assured us whatever support we want he will provide to us. He said that he will talk to chief ministers of the states so that the law and order remains in place and violence does not take place near theatres. Full security will be given to all exhibitors. The way we celebrate Diwali, (We want) everyone get entertained and celebrate it with happiness,” Bhatt added.

Union minister Babul Supriyo, who was also part of the delegation, said, “MNS is a party of goons. They should not be allowed to take law and order in their hands.”

Bhatt said that he is not worried about MNS threats after the Home Minister’s assurance and he is confident that “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” will have a smooth release.

Fadnavis assured Johar that the Maharashtra government will not allow anyone to disturb law and order.

“The state government would like to reaffirm that the government will not allow anyone to disturb law and order and stern action will be taken. Democratic protest is fine but unlawful activity will not be tolerated,” Fadnavis assured Johar, who called on him in Mumbai.

Police had on Wednesday taken strict action against MNS workers for protesting and raising slogans outside Metro Cinema in South Mumbai.

Twelve activists of the MNS who had gone to Metro theatre to threaten them were arrested and sent in judicial custody till November 4.

Meanwhile, continuing with their agitation, the MNS shifted the scene to Maharashtra’s Nagpur city where some party workers this afternoon demonstrated in front of cinema hall at the main business locality in Sitabuldi against the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. They later submitted a memorandum to the theatre manager not to screen the film.