Uncertain Release: 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' Faces Legal Hurdles in India's Punjab

The highly anticipated Pakistani blockbuster, 'The Legend of Maula Jatt', starring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, faces delays in India's Punjab state due to a court order. The film’s distribution was set by Zee Studios, but legal issues have halted its release. Past bans and political tensions complicate its cross-border distribution.

'The Legend of Maula Jatt', a highly anticipated Pakistani blockbuster featuring Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, will not be hitting theaters in India's Punjab state as initially scheduled, according to Nadeem Mandviwalla, the film's distribution holder.

The release was halted due to a stay order obtained by an Indian ministry, which now awaits a court decision. Despite having exclusive distribution rights in Pakistan, Mandviwalla noted that Zee India's collaboration had aimed to facilitate the film's release in India's Punjab.

The delay is seen as a major setback, with Mandviwalla hopeful that the film, praised for its production quality and cast, will be a huge success whenever it does release. The announcement of the film's scheduled release in India faced resistance from various parties, leading to the court intervention.

The legal battle highlights ongoing tensions stemming from the 2019 Pulwama incident, after which India banned the export of its films to Pakistan, prompting a reciprocal measure from the Pakistani government. This has adversely affected the Pakistani film industry, which previously relied on Bollywood imports.

'The Legend of Maula Jatt' had recorded significant success upon its initial release, generating around Pakistani Rs 400 crores. However, the current legal obstacles in India's Punjab impede the film's broader international success.

(With inputs from agencies.)