Salman Khan's Tubelight not to release in Pakistan? Local producers oppose competition on Eid

Lahore: Hindi film superstar Salman Khan’s much awaited film Tubelight might not hit the screens on Eid in Pakistan as some local filmmakers have started a movement to stall the release of the film. The filmmakers along with the Film Distributors Association and the Film Producers Association want to ensure better business for Pakistani films during the Eid holidays. The distributors, producers and filmmakers say they want to protect the interest of Pakistani movies as two big films, Yalghaar and Shor Sharaba, along with others in the pipeline, are slated for an Eid release. “If Tubelight also releases on Eid, it will certainly hit the business of these Pakistani films and that will not help our industry,” actor Mustafa Qureshi said. Those trying to stall the release of the Salman Khan-starrer are citing a law passed by the Federal Ministry of Information in 2010 which forbids the release of any Indian film on a Muslim holiday. “If required we can even go to the court,” producer Altaf Hussain said. Hussain said the associations are planning to send an official letter to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as well. He confirmed a meeting was held in Lahore at which it was decided that the entire Pakistani film industry will join the planned protest to stop the release of Tubelight on Eid. “It has been decided that all those related to the Pakistani film industry will support the Pakistani films that are supposed to release on Eid-ul-Fitr,” Hussain added. Sohail Khan, the producer of Shor Sharaba, said, “My film is supposed to release on Eid-ul-Fitr and if the government doesn’t stall Tubelight, I will not release it as a mark of protest.” Tubelight stars Salman, his brother Sohail Khan, the late Om Puri, Chinese actor Zhu Zhu and a cameo by Shah Rukh Khan. It is directed by Kabir Khan and co-produced by Kabir and Salman Khan Films. It is slated to release on 25 June.