New Delhi:
Aamir Khan has refused to release his blockbuster 'Dangal' in Pakistan after the CBFC board there decided to chop out two important scenes from the movie.
According to the media reports, the Pakistani censor board asked the makers to cut two scenes from 'Dangal' featuring the Indian flag and national anthem.
"When the film went to the Pakistan censor board, they were fine with it except for two particular scenes towards the end — one in which the Indian flag is shown and another in which the Indian national anthem is played after Geeta Phogat (played by Fatima Sana Shaikh) wins the gold medal. The Pakistan censors wanted the scenes to be edited out before they gave Dangal the green signal," a source reportedly told a leading daily.
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The news was confirmed by Mobashir Hasan who happens to be the head of Pakistan's Central Board of Film Censors.
He told a leading daily, "Yes, the board unanimously decided to skip two scenes."
Reportedly, the decision didn't go down well with Aamir, who felt that the “demand for the two cuts was surprising, because the film isn’t jingoistic in nature”.
Notably, 'Dangal' is a sports based biopic based on the life and struggle of world wrestling champions Geeta and Babita Phogat, and has no direct or indirect reference with Pakistan.
Subsequently, Aamir has decided not to release the movie in Pkistan, saying the demanded cuts were crucial to the spirit of the film, his spokesperson reportedly told a media agency.
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“It will result in an economic loss to the tune of Rs 10-12 crore, as Pakistan is an important international territory vis-à-vis money, but he isn’t willing to edit the scenes in question. He is aware that not releasing the film could lead to piracy, but he is sure about what he won’t do,” the source was quoted as saying.
Interestingly, the news has come a couple of months after Pakistan lifted the ban on Indian films which was imposed in wake of Uri attacks that happened in September 2016 killing 19 Indian soldiers.
