No Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar for Pakistan this Eid
A leading Pakistani distributor and exhibitors have decided to shun two big releases -Shah Rukh Khan`s `Chennai Express` and Akshay Kumar`s `Once Upon A Time in Mumbai 2` -this Eid.
|Last Updated: Apr 24, 2013, 04:31 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Karachi: In a rare show of support for the local film industry, a leading Pakistani distributor and exhibitors have decided to shun two big releases -Shah Rukh Khan`s `Chennai Express` and Akshay Kumar`s `Once Upon A Time in Mumbai 2` -this Eid.
Distributor Abdul Rashid said that they have decided not to screen the two Bollywood movie to give a chance to four Pakistani films releasing on Eid.
"The reason is we have four big Pakistani releases lined up for Eid and this time we want to see how they fare at the box office without direct competition from Indian films," Rashid said.
Both the Indian films were slated for release on August 8 but Rashid said now Pakistani filmmakers will get a chance to screen their films, ‘Josh’, ‘Waar’, ‘Main Huun Shahid Afridi’ and ‘Ishq Khuda’ during Eid.
Rashid is the leading distributor of Indian films in Pakistan and admitted the decision to not release the two Bollywood films during the festive time could result in loss of revenues for exhibitors.
"But this time we want to see what happens because we are accused of not supporting the Pakistani film industry."
Rashid said he had been in touch with the production houses of the two Bollywood movies, UTV and Balaji and explained the situation to them.
Nadeem Mandviwalla, a leading exhibitor and partner of the Atrium multiplex in Karachi, said the government also wanted to protect the Pakistani film industry interests.
"The four Pakistani films which want more screens this Eid are good productions but we have to see how the public responds to them. As far as the Indian movies are concerned their release on Eid would have meant a bonanza for the exhibitors," he said.
Mandviwalla said there was a suggestion to release the two Bollywood starrers one week later in Pakistani cinemas.
Since the government allowed screening of Indian films in Pakistan the cinema business in Karachi in particular has been revived handsomely with distributors and exhibitors reporting profits in crores from some big releases.
PTI
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.