Ae Dil Hai Mushkil row: No law and order problem during movie screening, Mumbai police chief tells Firstpost

Even as there have been threats and protests by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to ban Karan Johar’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which were later called off, security has been tightened in Mumbai and around cinemas and theatres across the country as the movie released on Friday. However, Mumbai Police Commissioner Datta Padsalgikar has assured that the movie would see a smooth release without any law and order problem. Speaking exclusively to Firstpost, Datta Padsalgikar said, “I assure that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will be released smoothly today. There were tensions initially, but we have made sure that we maintain law and order. We already provided adequate security to multiplexes and single screen theatres in Mumbai. [caption id=“attachment_3065846” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Poster of Karan Johar film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’.[/caption] “Mumbaikars can watch the movie without any fear and enjoy Diwali. I am personally monitoring that there are no issues in ADHM’s screening in theatres. If anyone needs security or encounters any problem, they can get in touch with Mumbai police. They will certainly help,” Padsalgikar said. “CM Devendra Fadnavis has already instructed us and we have deployed enough security in Mumbai. We have even spoken to Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association and have assured them adequate security will be provided to them,” Padsalgikar added. “Many would want to watch the movie during this festive season and they should be able to enjoy it without any tension. Mumbai Police will make sure that the 1.40 crore Mumbaikar would be able to watch it without tension and fear,” the police chief said. Earlier this month, in a move to boycott Pakistani artistes from working in India, Raj Thackeray-led MNS asserted that they would not let Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (which features Fawad Khan in a cameo) and Raees (which marks the Bollywood debut of Mahira Khan) release in India, or be screened in theatres. The group warned that any filmmaker who defied their diktat would be beaten up. Following which Ae Dil Hai Mushkil director Karan Johar said that he would stick to his release plan, even as certain distributors and theatre owners were against it, citing their safety. On 18 October, the MNS intensified its plans and issued an indirect threat of vandalism to the multiplexes if they screened the movie. Meanwhile, there was some tension in Jabalpur and Delhi  over the screening of ADHM. According to Hindi publication Pradesh 18, Hindu Parishad activists barged inside a movie theatre in Jabalpur to stop its screening. Post this, the 9 am show was cancelled.

Heavy security deployed outside multiplexes in Delhi as 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' hit the box office. #ADHM pic.twitter.com/UUyxxTPYCU

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2016

Similarly, in Gwalior, workers from a Hindu organisation barged into a multiplex to stop the screening of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.  Sambhaji Brigade supporters staged an agitation outside Sarvoday Mall in Kalyan. Sambhaji Brigade, like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has been opposing the inclusion of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the movie.

Sambhaji Brigade protest against the release of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' in Kalyan, Maharashtra. #ADHM pic.twitter.com/XCzJwmjF4I

— ANI (@ANI) October 28, 2016

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The MNS had called off its agitation days before the release of the movie. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had then approached party chief Raj Thackeray and Karan Johar at his Varsha Bungalow for a compromise.