Bollywood’s much-anticipated movie Tiger Zinda Hai has been refused the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for import by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.
The film, starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif, is the sequel of thriller drama Ek Tha Tiger, which didn’t get a release in the country either.
Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censor (CBFC) chairman, Mobasher Hasan, told The Express Tribune: “Tiger Zinda Hai has been refused the NOC, citing the same reason as the first instalment of the franchise. The image of Pakistan and its law enforcement agencies has been compromised.”
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and produced by Yash Raj Films (YRF), the movie is about two spies — one Indian and the other Pakistani. The film releases in India on December 22.
Sulaiman S Lalani, executive director, Geo TV Network, which was geared up to distribute the movie, is disheartened.
“Our preferred option was that Tiger Zinda Hai should have been allowed for import, presented to censor board, and if any objectionable material was found against the interests of Pakistan/Islam, exhibition of the film shouldn’t have been allowed then.
“In fact, if there was any thing against the national interests of Pakistan in the film, we ourselves wouldn’t have sought the exhibition but this could have been done only after preview of the film,” said Lalani over the phone from Karachi on Wednesday.
He said they were verbally advised that Ministry of Information has decided not to issue NOC for import of Tiger Zinda Hai with “no reasons assigned”.
Lalani is expecting a written response from both parties on Thursday.
Given Khan’s fan following in Pakistan, there was a high interest in the country for the movie.
“Pakistan loves Salman Khan. Sultan was a mega blockbuster and made approximately $3 million (Dh11.01 million) at the box office in Pakistan. His ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ was also loved by fans here,” Lalani said.
Tiger Zinda Hai director Zafar told IANS in an earlier interview that it’s a largely a story about humanity.
“The film is a very human story... it is not political at all. The idea is that when there is a fight between right and wrong, what is at stake is humanity. And there’s nothing bigger than humanity,” he said.
