Bollywood reacts to Pakistan banning Indian films

Entertainment Desk: After Pakistan government announced the banning of Indian films from its cinemas across the nation, members of the Indian film fraternity say it does not make any difference to India and that it is Pakistan's loss.

Firdous Ashiq Awan, special assistant to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Information and Broadcasting, claimed this action was in retaliation to India's abrogation of the Constitution's Article 370, which gave special status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir and allowed it to have a separate constitution, a state flag and autonomy over the internal administration.

Reacting to Pakistan's decision, filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), told IANS, "It does not make any difference whether Pakistanis watch our films or not. I think the internal security of the country comes first. Whether films release there or not is irrelevant. We have a clear issue in front of us."

He added, "Our film industry is very big. Even business wise it does not matter. We are talking about our country."

However, trade analyst Komal Nahta told IANS that, strictly from the business point of view, the ban will affect the box-office.

Agencies

risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 9, 2019/Nasim