The call by the Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association Of India (COEAOI) to not screen Karan Johar’s Ae Dil HaiMushkil (ADHM) is yet another blow to the beleaguered producer-director Karan Johar who has been facing the brunt of political ire as well as opposition from his own fraternity due to the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his film. While Karan refuses to rid ADHM of Fawad’s presence, this move has made an increasing number of people in the film industry take a stand against his film and they would like nothing better than to see it being boycotted.
Says a well-informed source, “If you look at the association shouting for a ban on Karan Johar’s films, the COEAO had similarly resolved to not release Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan and had focused on the Ajay Devgn’s Son Of Sardaar. The association asking for a ban on ADHM is also telling the exhibitors that audiences will prefer Shivaay for Diwali as action is the preferred genre during the festive season.”
CBFC chief Pahlaj Nihalani doesn’t think the latest ban against ADHM should be taken seriously. “The association that has called for the ban has limited clout. I don’t think a ban on ADHM is fair. Karan Johar worked with a Pakistani artiste at time when relations with our neighbours were not so bad. Who was to know that relations would worsen so drastically after he completed the film? It is cruel and absurd to expect Karan Johar to rid the plot of Fawad’s presence. Let him release his film in peace. In future we will and we must boycott all Pakistani artistes. But now, why is one filmmaker being made to look less patriotic than the others,” said the indignant Nihlani.
