NEW DELHI: Ending days of uncertainty over the release of an Indian movie starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that Karan Johar’s film would have a great Diwali opening.

Defying threats by Hindutva groups, Mr Singh said movie theatres showing Ae Dil Hai Mushkil would get protection across the country.

Indian Express said

Mukesh Bhatt, president of the Film and Television Producers Guild of India, on Thursday met Mr Singh who assured him a safe release of the film on October 28 — two days before the festival of lights.

Mr Johar skipped the meeting as he was busy with the post-production of the film in Mumbai, sources told the paper. Mr Bhatt, along with singer-politician Babul Supriyo, met Mr Singh to appeal for security amid vandalism threats from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which is against the movie’s release because it features the Pakistani actor.

“We are entertainers. We are interested in working with artists, and not whether they belong to Pakistan, China or Africa,” Mr Bhatt told the media after meeting Mr Singh.

MNS had refused to change its stance despite Mr Johar saying in a video message that he would not work with talent from Pakistan in future.

Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2016