MNS Threatens to Interrupt Shah Rukh Khan's 'Chennai Express' Screening

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) seems to be upset with the makers of upcoming Bollywood film "Chennai Express" and have threatened to disrupt its release in theatres.

The threat comes just a week ahead of the film's release which is due on 9 August.

According to reports, "Chennai Express" director Rohit Shetty had demanded prime slots in single cinemas, which in turn upset the Sena's film wing alleging that the demand would affect the screening of regional language films in Maharashtra.

Expressing his contempt over Rohit's demand Amey Khopkar, chief of Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena (film wing) said, "If the producers of 'Chennai Express' attempt to dislodge any of the ongoing or forthcoming Marathi movies, we shall not tolerate it and deal with it in MNS style," IANS reported.

Khopkar added that the wing will not give way for "Chennai Express" producers to affect the business of hit Marathi film "Duniyadari", which is still running successfully in various cinema houses after its release on 19 July. He also said that the wing has written to owners of theatres asking them not to give away slots of "Duniyadari" to "Chennai Express".

"If the 'Chennai Express' producers attempt to do this, we shall not let the movie be exhibited in cinemas of the state. We shall also remove their publicity posters from Thursday," said the film wing chief.

"Chennai Express", which reunites Shah Rukh and Deepika Padukone on screen after a gap of six years, is co-produced by Shah Rukh's wife Gauri Khan, Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur. The action comedy is about a 40-year-old Mumbai-based man, who on his way to Rameshwaram, falls in love with a South-Indian girl.