Ae Dil Hai Mushkil row: MNS agrees to film's release after Raj Thackeray, Karan Johar, Mukesh Bhatt meet Fadnavis

In an attempt to put to rest the ongoing controversy over the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, director Karan Johar and Bollywood producer and Film & Television Producers Guild of India president Mukesh Bhatt met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday, October 22.

The meeting, which was held at the CM's residence, was also attended by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who has been protesting against the release of the film since it features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. After the meeting, Bhatt said that they had a constructive meeting with the CM. "I assured Fadnavis that the Producers Guild has decided that it will not work with Pakistani artistes in the future," Mukesh Bhatt told reporters after the meeting, ANI reported.

"Karan Johar said that he will run a special slate honouring the martyrs before the start of the movie. It's a tribute from us to our soldiers," Bhatt added. The meeting also resulted in MNS assuring them that they will not oppose the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

With this, the controversy surrounding the film's release seems to have finally died down. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, is now expected to witness a smooth run in theatres across the country.

MNS was demanding a ban on KJo's film after the Uri attack resulted in worsening of ties between India and Pakistan. They had also issued a threat of vandalism to multiplex owners if they screened it. Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) had decided not to release the film in single screen theatres in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and parts of Karnataka. The association took the decision keeping the public sentiment in mind and due to the demand for ban on Pakistani artistes working in India.