The Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) have announced stalling of the release of movies starring Pakistani artistes in the Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa.

This decision was made in the backdrop of the Uri attacks and keeping in mind the patriotic feelings and the national interest of the country and have decided to ban the release of any movies that has involvement of any Pakistani artiste, technicians, directors, music directors, etc,

The Censor Board Chief Pahlaj Nihalani has come out in support of Karan Johar and against the decision of COEAI.

He claims that the decision of COEAI goes against the interest of the Indian film industry. While speaking to a news channel he says that according to him Karan shot the film with Fawad Khan when relations between India-Pakistan were normal. Nihalani further said that nobody has the right to ban Karan Johar‘s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and that this decision was meant to be personal against the filmmaker.

The Censor Board chief is of the opinion that no one can ban the film especially after the Censor Board has given it a green signal. Censor board has chopped three intimate scenes from the movie and given it a UA certificate.

Lashing out against the Cinema Owners Association, he took a strong stand. “The association has no right to take such a decision. From now on, no Pakistani actor will work in our films, and I fully support that but the films that are complete should not be touched,” said Nihalani.

Under association of COEAI, there are several single screen theatres and few multiplexes. This might affect the release of Karan Johar’s ambitious project Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.