MUMBAI: There is just a week left for ‘Chennai Express’ to arrive at our movie halls. But even before the Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone starrer hits theatres, looks like there is controversy already.

A leading political party in Maharashtra has allegedly threatened to disrupt the release of ‘Chennai Express’. Apparently its reported that ‘Chennai Express’ has demanded more prime-time slots in single screen cinemas at the cost of some Marathi films being screened.

This has not gone down well with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and they have supposedly threatened to disrupt the film’s release. Amey Khopkar, Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (film wing), spokesperson has said, “If the producers of ‘Chennai Express’ attempt to dislodge any of the ongoing or forthcoming Marathi movies, we shall not tolerate it and deal with it in MNS style.”

It’s a mandatory rule in Maharashtra to screen Marathi films, be it single screen cinemas or multiplexes. While in the recent past, in view of the big releases, the rules have been tweaked and many Marathi films haven’t had their due worth at the box-office.

Currently ‘Duniyadari’ is running to packed houses in single-screen cinemas in non-metro cities and small towns.

Khopkar also has said that he has taken a written word from all single cinema halls and others seeking that ‘Duniyadari’ wouldn’t be taken off to accommodate ‘Chennai Express’. Neither will new Marathi releases be compromised.

This isn’t the first time that Shah Rukh Khan is facing controversy over his film’s release. When ‘My Name Is Khan’ released, the film was banned for a few days over SRK’s anti religious statements. The film went to became the biggest HIT that year.

‘Chennai Express’ produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Rohit Shetty releases on 9 August. The film is distributed by UTV Motion Pictures and also stars Deepika Padukone in the lead.