MUMBAI: Actor and film-maker Shah Rukh Khan may have extended an olive branch to the radical Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party to ensure the smooth release of his film Raees, which features a Pakistani actress in a leading role, but his troubles are far from over.

According to the latest reports, Shiv Sena, a rival of MNS, is now fishing for trouble.

Akshaye Rathi, a leading distributor, took to Twitter to announce that he has received threat letters from the political party’s Chhattisgarh wing. In the letter, the party leader has warned distributors of dire consequences, if they go ahead with the film’s release on Jan 25.

The distributor has shared the letter and has been pleading with Mr Khan’s fans to help him bring the issue to light. Rathi has also pleaded with office of the Chhattisgarh chief minister to look into the situation and ensure that law and order prevail.

He has also asked the president of Shiv Sena’s youth wing, Aaditya Thackeray, if he endorses such behaviour.

After the controversy surrounding the release of Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, all eyes have turned to the SRK action-flick that features Pakistani star Mahira Khan as the leading lady in the movie. This won’t be the first time that the famous actor has been at the receiving end of the party’s politics. A few years ago, he had to brave the Sena storm during the release of his film My Name Is Khan.

The actor and the Shiv Sena have yet to comment on the matter.

By arrangement with the Times of India

Published in Dawn January 12th, 2017