Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has reportedly threatened multiplex owners in Mumbai and other parts of the state against screening Tiger Zinda Hai. The organisation told the theatre owners to screen Marathi movie Deva instead of the Salman Khan-starrer.
According to CNN News 18, film division head of MNS has sent a letter to all the multiplex owners asking them to screen Deva on December 22 instead of Tiger Zinda Hai across Mumbai and Maharashtra. The report said that the letter has a threatening tone to it.
The MNS' move comes after Deva failed to get adequate number of screens across the state as most theatre screens are booked forTiger Zinda Hai, which is releasing on the same date.
This is not the first time that Thackeray or MNS has issued a threat with regard to a movie. Most recently, theatre owners were threatened not to screen Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in Mumbai as it featured Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
Earlier in 2015, Maharasthra government made it mandatory that at least one screen in all multiplexes have to be allotted to a Marathi movie during the prime time. In the current scenario, it looks like the theatre owners may have to make some changes in their plans, and replace Tiger Zinda Hai with Deva in many screens.
Salman and Katrina Kaif's Tiger Zinda Hai is undoubtedly one of the most awaited flicks of this year, and hence most theatre owners are trying to give as many slots as possible to it. However, in the wake of MNS' reported threat, the multiplex owners in Mumbai apparently may have to make some compromises.
A few weeks back, another big movie Padmavati had gotten into a major controversy for allegedly portraying some objectionable scenes involving a historic figure. The film that was supposed to be released on December 1, had been delayed for an indefinite period. Now, it will be interesting to see Tiger Zinda Hai's fate in Mumbai box office.
