To release or not to release: that is the question being raised by the Pakistan Censorship board about the Indian film Haider based on Shakespeare's play Hamlet.
Although Vishal Bhardwaj's Haider is getting raving reviews after its premiere in India, it seems that the film might not get the much-needed NOC (No Objection Certificate) by the Pakistan Film Censor Board.
The film which stars Shahid Kapoor, Tabbu, Kay Kay Menon and Shrada Kapoor in the lead has been shot in Kashmir, which led to reservations about its release in Pakistan.
According to a source, the film was previewed and was sent to the Censor Board for approval. However after watching Haider's preview, the body decided not to go ahead with the release because of some controversial elements related to Kashmir.
Haider was slated for its release on October 2 alongside Hrithik and Katrina starrer Bang Bang, but while the shows for Bang Bang are scheduled in Pakistan, the much awaited Haider is nowhere to be seen.
It is expected that the distributors would not face a loss as they had already anticipated that the film may not be released in Pakistan.
Earlier, a film based on the Indian Army, Holiday, was screened in Pakistan but Salman Khan's Ek Tha Tiger could not make it to the screens because of the portrayal of anti-Pakistan elements.
Though the reasons were different, Rani Mukherjee's Mardaani also saw a similar fate.
Haider will be Bhardwaj's third adaptation of Shakespeare's plays, previous two being Maqbool (Macbeth) and Omkara (Othello).
Watch Haider's trailer here:
