Pak bans release of Bollywood film 'Lahore'

Mumbai, Mar 18: The award winning bollywood film 'Lahore' has been denied release in Pakistan as the country alleged that the movie portrayed Pakistan in a negative light, media reports said.

However, the producer of the film said that the film in fact promotes peace between the two countries.

"Our film doesn't have anything negative about Pakistan. The name of our film has been misjudged by the authorities. It is called Lahore because the climax of our film is set in Lahore, and we have no intentions of hurting anyone's sentiments," movie's producer Vivek Khatkar said in a news agency report.

The film which is scheduled for a worldwide release on Mar 19 has won many international awards, including the best actor award for newcomer Anaahad at Tenerife International Film Festival(UK) and Salento International Film Festival, Italy .

A major portion of the film has been shot in Pakistan.

Upset at the ban, its director Sanjay Puransingh Chauhan said that the movie which revolves around the sport of kick-boxing speaks about peace as the tagline 'Beyond borders, between Nations lies a battle to end all wars', implies.

"The very idea of the film was to break the cliched image we have of our neighbouring country," said Chauhan.

"I am quite surprised and hurt but only hoping that we can release our film in Pakistan, because I want everyone to see this film around the globe," said Khatkar.

The ban on release of a 'Lahore' come as surprise, as Pakistanis are believed to be an ardent lover of bollywood films.

Earlier the court dismissed a petition to ban Indian films in Pakistan after the Pakistani cricket players were snubbed in the auction of Indian Premier League season 3.

OneIndia News