Mahesh Bhatt is hurt as Begum Jaan is rejected by Pakistan censor board

After Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees, Taapsee Pannu’s Naam Shabana and Aamir Khan’s Dangal, it is Vidya Balan‘s Begum Jaan that won’t be releasing in Pakistan. While Raees and Naam Shabana were rejected by Pakistan censor board, Dangal on the other hand was refused a released by Aamir Khan himself. Talking to Mid-Day about the rejection of Begum Jaan by Pakistan censor board, Mahesh Bhatt, the producer of the film said, “I was told by my distributor that Pakistan, as a policy, does not permit the import of films dealing with the issue of Partition. I requested the key officer of the Pakistan censor board to at least view the film and then take a decision. I was assured they would look into the matter. Sadly, I have not heard from them since. My distributor informs me that his office has been intimated that Begum Jaan won’t be imported into Pakistan.”

Mahesh Bhatt seemed hurt by the decision as he added, “I did not look at Pakistan just as a market to sell my wares. Yes, when Begum Jaan was not viewed by their Censor Board, I was ridiculed by some of my close associates. That did hurt.” 

Talking about the same, director of Begum Jaan, Srijit Mukherji said, “It is the rule of someone’s land, which must be respected. Unfortunately, the common thread binding these two nations is the history and Partition is the integral tragedy connecting us. All the hatred can be traced back to it. Understanding and analysing it from a human view would help but it’s a pity they don’t want to. They are touchy and sensitive about this issue.”

Begum Jaan is slated for an April 14, 2017 release in India and stars Vidya Balan in the lead role.