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ADHM row: MNS claims 'victory', film producers give in to Raj Thackeray's 3 demands

Johar's ADHM has been at the centre of a controversy since the Uri terror attack.

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Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and filmmakers Karan Johar and Mukesh Bhatt met with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday morning to discuss the row over the release of Johar's latest film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

After the meeting, MNS told the media, "We will not oppose ADHM's release." Addressing the media, Raj Thackeray said, "Every producer will give Rs 5 crore to Army relief fund." The MNS Chief called the meeting's resolution "a victory for our agitation".

Thackeray said that his party had made three demands at the meeting.  Apart from the contribution to the Army fund, Thackeray said that producers will have to give in writing that they will not take Pakistani actors in their films. The third demand was to have a tribute to the Army.

Thackeray also said he was confident that the people would boycott the film.

Johar's multi-starrer film has been at the centre of a controversy since the Uri terror attack last month. In the aftermath of the terror strike, various sectors demanded a ban on Pakistani artistes from the film industry.The MNS had objected to Indian films featuring Pakistani actors and had threatened to stop the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo.

In the meeting with Fadnavis, it was decided that the film industry would not work with any Pakistani artist. "I assured the Chief Minister that the Producer's Guild has decided that we will not work with Pakistani artists in the future, it is a resolution and we will pass this resolution," said Mukesh Bhatt after the meeting.

Bhatt said that keeping the sentiments of the nation first, director Karan Johar has also said that he will run a slate before the movie starts to honours the martyrs. "Karan Johar and other producers have offered to contribute to the army welfare fund to the defence ministry as a small humble contribution to the best of the capability, irrespective of the picture runs or doesn't run," he said.

Producers Sidharth Roy Kapur, Sajid Nadiadwala and Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios were also present in the meeting.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had extended the Centre's support to makers of ADHM and assured security to exhibitors amid threats by MNS. Last week, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India announced it would not release movies featuring Pakistani artistes in four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.

In response to the controversy and the calls for a ban on his film, Johar had released a video statement earlier this week.

In a previous meeting, Fadnavis had assured Johar that the Maharashtra government would not allow anyone to disturb law and order. "The state government would like to reaffirm that the government will not allow anyone to disturb law and order and stern action will be taken. Democratic protest is fine but unlawful activity will not be tolerated," Fadnavis said.

Police had also taken strict action against MNS workers on Thursday for protesting and raising slogans outside Metro Cinema in South Mumbai. Twelve activists of the MNS who had gone to Metro theatre to threaten them were arrested and sent to judicial custody till November 4.

With agency inputs

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