Pakistan bans Bollywood films

Pakistan openly condemned the ban on their artists from working in Bollywood. The Pakistani citizens showed their bitterness on the decision on social media, and many celebrities faced criticism on these websites. Actors like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan had to leave the country. Ali Zafar’s brother Danyal lost out on his Bollywood debut in Karan Johar’s upcoming movie.

Till date, India and Pakistan have fought three wars with each other, out of which two were fought over Kashmir. As a result of the war in 1965 between the two nations, Bollywood movies were banned in Pakistan for 43 years. The ban was finally lifted in 2008.And now, the Pakistani government has reacted to the ban on their artists by banning Indian films in their country, yet again.

Al Jazeera's Kamal Hyder, reporting from Rawalpindi, said that they have already put a stop on cinemas showing Bollywood films. He said, "Most people here are saying, that if this is going to be a serious affair, it should not be forgotten that Pakistani television is also showing Indian movies and Indian dramas. There are thousands and thousands of CD shops across Pakistan, which sells Indian movies. So what they are saying is, if the government is indeed serious, then there should be more curbs on those as well."

Cinema workers in Karachi were spotted replacing giant posters advertising Indian films with banners of Pakistani and Hollywood films. A statement from Pakistan's Film Exhibitors and Distributors group said on Friday, "Following the IMPPA decision, the majority stake holders of the Pakistani film industry have decided to suspend the screening of all Indian films until normalcy returns."