Leading overseas distributor Hirachand Dand, who had acquired the Pakistan rights of Raees, finds the ban on the film, “unprecedented and totally disappointing.” Dand, who is also the President of the Indian Film Exporters Association, admits that he bought the film as Pakistan is a huge market for Shah Rukh Khan-starrers.
“This was the first time I had acquired an SRK-starrer for Pakistan. I had great expectations from it because there was a huge curiosity about the film among his Pakistani fans. Also Mahira Khan is from Pakistan. Above all, it was a Muslim-centric film, ticking all boxes for a sure-shot hit, ” he said.
Unfortunately for Dand, the film was unanimously rejected. “I was surprised when it was decided to have a ‘Full Board’ screening for the film. The Censor Board is in three places — Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi — and one of the three Boards generally review a film for clearance, but in some cases, when the content is perceived as controversial, they involve members of all the three boards. In the case of Raees, members of all the three Boards, sat on the screening, after which they called for a ban on the film. It was a big setback, ” he said.