'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' release: 12 MNS workers sent to judicial custody after arrest

Police on Wednesday arrested twelve Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers when they barged into Metro Cinema to threaten the owners against the screening of Karan Johar's upcoming film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ as Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned that anybody found taking law into their hands would be dealt firmly.

MNS today rejected Karan Johar's statement that he will not "engage with talent" from Pakistan in future and asserted that it will not allow "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" to be screened in single theatres and multiplexes. 

MNS film wing workers were arrested by police after they threatened the Metro cinema hall in South Mumbai, asking the management not to hold any show of movie "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" which features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. 

“Police has taken very strict action on MNS today. Twelve members of the MNS who had gone to Metro theatre to threaten them have been sent to judicial custody till November 4,” CM Fadnavis.

Seeking to assuage tempers over opposition to the release of his directorial venture, Johar had yesterday made a fervent appeal against stalling the release, saying he will not engage with talent from Pakistan. 

However, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) today said reality has dawned late on Johar. 

MNS cine wing head Amey Khopkar, after a meeting with senior party leaders and Raj Thackeray, told PTI that they were firm on opposing the release. 

"We will not allow the film to be screened in single screens and multiplexes. Reality has dawned late on the producer," Khopkar said. 

The MNS protested outside Metro cinema he said, adding that such protests will be held at all cinema halls. 

The MNS and some other political parties have opposed release of films with actors from Pakistan after the Uri terror attack, putting a question mark on the fate of Johar's movie, slated for a pre-Diwali release on October 28. 

The Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India too decided not to screen films with Pakistani actors in four states -- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa. 

Johar's film starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is facing trouble for Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's extended cameo. 

A team from Johar's Dharma Productions along with filmmaker Mukesh Bhatt and Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios had yesterday met Mumbai's top police officials and sought protection for the theatres to screen the film. 

Assuring all help from their end, Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Dudhe had said, "Mumbai police will provide adequate protection to cinema theatres as and when required." 

Party's cine wing executive president Shalini Thackeray today said Karan Johar's video has come very late. 

"... and after seeing it, I find he is acting and not appealing from his heart. He should have listened to our demands at the first time. We have intensified the agitation and now it cannot be withdrawn easily," she said. 

Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress unit president Sanjay Nirupam pointed out the handling of law and order over the threats by MNS. 

"I am against Pakistani artistes in Indian films. But it is upto the government to take a decision on release of a film which has been shot with artistes from the neighbouring country...," he told PTI. 

"Is there no police law in Mumbai or MNS calls the shots. Why is the government not intervening to ensure there is no law and order problem. (Chief Minister Devendra) Fadnavis should first maintain law and order and then take a call on the release of the film," Nirupam said.