Tiger Zinda Hai: Sad news for Salman-Katrina fans in Pakistan, movie won’t release there

There’s a dialogue in the trailer of ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’ mouthed by Zoya (Katrina Kaif), a Pakistani spy, ‘Hamara yeh mission ab sirf un nurses ko bachane ke liya nahi hai, puri duniya ko batane ke liye hai that we stand for peace’. Well, it looks like the film will show how India and Pakistan join hands together to save those nurses, and how peace is something that both the countries want.

However, the message that director Ali Abbas Zafar wants to give won’t be able to reach to Pakistani audiences. ‘TZH’ has been refused the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for import by Pakistan’s Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage.

Mobasher Hasan, the chairperson of Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censor (CBFC) told a Pakistani newspaper, “‘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.”

The movie was supposed to be distributed in Pakistan by Geo TV Network. Sulaiman S. Lalani, the Executive Director of the company told IANS, “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,” he added.

Lalani has informed that they were verbally advised that Ministry of Information has decided not to issue NOC for import of the movie. He is expecting a written response from both parties today.

Salman has a huge fan following in Pakistan. Talking about it, Lalani said, “Pakistan loves Salman Khan. ‘Sultan’ was a mega blockbuster and minted approximately $3 million at the box office in Pakistan. His ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ was also loved by fans here.”

Well, even ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ didn’t get a release in Pakistan.

Produced by Aditya Chopra, the film is slated to hit the screens on December 22, 2017. (Also Read: Tiger Zinda Hai: Salman Khan pitted against a wild wolf is action personified)

Inputs From IANS