Release Fanaa, Kunal Kohli to exhibitors

Mumbai, June 6: Director of the movie 'Fanaa' Kunal Kohli, has urged exhibitors in Gujarat who wish to screen the film to request for protection from the state government.

Talking to reporters yesterday after the Supreme court remark on director Mahesh Bhatt's PIL that exhibitors can ask for protection from the state government to release the film, Kohli said the state government should extend support to the exhibitors who wanted the film to be released in the state.

''Now, we as filmmakers request all theatre owners of Gujarat, request everybody to come forward and release the film. We have earned 47 crores (both domestic and overseas) in the first week and have lost approximately six to seven crore of business in Gujarat.

However, it's not about money... it is about principle. As a democratic country where Aamir has right to say, even the people of Gujarat who is protesting have right to say.... but in a democratic fashion and not by burning posters and threatening people,'' he added.

Agreeing that piracy had increased due to the ban in Gujarat, Kunal said, ''Yes, we agree that there have been a lot of pirated cds and dvds of Fanaa available in market. All we can say and request that people should not buy pirated cds or dvds and should actually go to the theatres and watch the film, this will help curb piracy.''

UNI