The Legend of Maula Jatt has been halted in India

The film stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan

Political tensions have led to its indefinite stall

The much-anticipated release of the Pakistani film The Legend of Maula Jatt, starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, has been halted in India. The film, originally scheduled for release on October 2, was expected to mark the first Pakistani movie screened in India in over a decade. However, political tensions and objections have led to its indefinite stall.

Also read: Bhumi Pednekar faces trolls over latest fashion choice at an award event

The decision follows the ongoing ban on Indian films in Pakistan since 2019, and growing resistance from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party. Ameya Khopkar, president of the MNS Cinema Wing, firmly opposed the release, stating, “We will not entertain any Pakistani film or actors in India.” He warned of severe agitation if the movie were shown, urging other parts of the country to follow suit.

Khopkar also cited the continued border tensions between India and Pakistan as a key factor behind the resistance. “Our soldiers are dying. Why do we need Pakistani actors here?” he questioned.

The film, a remake of the 1979 Pakistani classic Maula Jatt, focuses on the iconic rivalry between Noori Natt (Hamza Ali Abbasi) and Maula Jatt (Fawad Khan). Despite strong legal challenges to the 2016 ban on Pakistani artists in India, the Supreme Court upheld the restrictions in November 2023, preventing the film’s release.