Bollywood Movies Re-Return to Pakistan’s Cinemas

Bollywood movies contribute to around 60 per cent of Pakistan’s cinema revenues, and the ban forced Pakistani cinema owners to cut close to 2,000 jobs and halve screenings. Things seem to be back to normal till the next setback in ties with Pakistan.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — After suffering sustained revenue losses for more than two months, Pakistani cinema owners and film distributors have lifted a self-imposed ban on the screening of Indian movies. Film Exhibitors Association Chairman Zoraiz Lashari said the association decided to lift the suspension with the consent of other exhibitors and film stakeholders.

"A couple of months ago we had stopped the screening of Indian movies in reaction to a ban on Pakistani artistes in India by Indian Motion Picture Producers Association. We showed our reaction to India. Now it is time to see other ground realities as well," Lashari was quoted by the Press Trust of India.

But the section in India that tried to exclude Pakistani artistes from Bollywood is unrelenting.

Pakistan's cinema owners took the decision in the wake of growing India-Pakistan tensions following an attack on an Indian army camp and escalation of tensions at the border, which impacted cultural and people-to-people ties as well. Many right-wing groups in India threatened the Bollywood fraternity with severe consequences for allowing Pakistani actors to work in India. This forced Pakistani cinema owners to retaliate by suspending the screening of Bollywood movies.

As of now, cinema owners are screening only those Indian movies which are already released and a further decision regarding new releases will be take on Wednesday.

Bollywood movies contribute to around 60% of Pakistan's cinema revenue, and the ban forced Pakistani cinema owners to cut close to 2,000 jobs and halve screenings.

But, the decision has not gone down well with hardline elements, who want the ban to continue, with many choosing Twitter to vent out their anger.

#DontLiftBollywoodBan RETWEET if you want this ban to stay imposed pic.twitter.com/GAMPOed7nZ

— Farhan Khan Virk (@FarhanKVirk) December 18, 2016

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This is not good for Kashmir. Bollywood is funding Indian army to kill Kashmiri people.
#DontLiftBollywoodBan pic.twitter.com/KAe2XW0EQg

— Iram Ahmad khan (@IramAhmadKhan) December 18, 2016

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#DontLiftBollywoodBan Retweet if you support Hamza ali Abbasi stance on Bollywood. pic.twitter.com/NVh7RlCtAL

— Nomy Sahir (@Nomysahir) December 18, 2016

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#DontLiftBollywoodBan
Read it and rt plz pic.twitter.com/tjh7oVZten

— Abdullah Rabbani 🌐 (@AbdullahRabban9) December 18, 2016