The Shiv Sena has vowed not to allow Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to promote their upcoming films in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena film wing’s general secretary Akshay Bardapurkar told emirates247.com, "We have taken a stand not to allow any Pakistani actor, cricketer or performer to step on Maharashtra soil.” Bardapurkar added that “responsible citizens should not cast Pakistanis in their film”. Fawad made his Bollywood debut with the 2014 film Khoobsurat, and is acting in Dharma Productions’ Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Mahira is all set to make her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees, scheduled to release next year.

The Sena's announcement came a day after its activists stormed the Mumbai office of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and protested against the presence of Pakistan Cricket Board chief Shahryar Khan in the city. Earlier this month, the Shiv Sena had forced the cancellation of two concerts of Pakistani ghazal legend Ghulam Ali in the state. Its workers also attacked former Bharatiya Janata Party man Sudheendra Kulkarni with ink, after he organised an event launching the book of former Pakistan foreign minister KM Kasuri.