Film distributor receives threat from Shiv Sena against screening of Shah Rukh Khan's 'Raees'
The party's Chhattisgarh unit has asked the exhibitors to stay away from showing any 'traitor's film'.
Leading film distributor Akshaye Rathi on Tuesday claimed that he received a threatening letter from Shiv Sena’s Chhattisgarh unit warning him against screening Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film Raees. In the letter, the party warned distributors of dire consequences if they go ahead with the film’s release.
Rathi took to Twitter to share the letter and urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh to ensure law and order prevails in the state. He also shared the letter with Shiv Sena’s Youth Wing President and Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray asking if he endorsed such behaviour. The letter asks exhibitors not to screen any “deshdrohi’s [traitor] film” and was signed by Rakesh Shinde, head of Shiv Sena’s Chhattisgarh unit, Rathi told The Indian Express.
Raees, which is slated to be released on January 26, stars Pakistani actress Mahira Khan. Last year, Karan Johar’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ran into trouble with Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena as it starred Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Raj Thackeray had demanded Rs 5 crore be donated to the Army relief fund to allow the film’s release in the country. Following this, Shah Rukh Khan had met Raj Thackeray in December and reportedly promised him that Mahira Khan will not be a part of the film’s promotions.