Pakistani cinemas lift ban on Bollywood movies; a smart move at a right time?

Cinemas in Pakistan will start screening Indian movies from December 19. The suspension that was in place will be lifted on December 19, confirmed Nadeem Mandviwala of Atrium cinemas.

Likely to pave the way for potential money-spinner Aamir Khans Dangal and Shah Rukh Khans Raees, Pakistani theatre owners are likely to lift their self-imposed ban on Indian films today.

We lifted the suspension as a cinema guild. We took this decision because we would like to support them (Indian cinemas) and expect them to support us, said Aadil Mandviwala, Director Mandviwala Entertainment. It takes two hands to clap, it does not matter if one hand is bigger or smaller. At the end of the day, its the clapping that counts. This is the message that we want India to hear, added Aadil, Dawn reported.

The cinema owners emphasised that it was a suspension, and not a ban, and explained that local businesses are quite heavily reliant on Indian cinema. Pakistan is the third-largest contributor to Bollywood revenue. The boycott was imposed after some Indian film-makers banned Pakistani actors from working in Bollywood films. The self-imposed suspension also reported to have led to a dramatic loss of revenue.

Atrium Cinemas has already added Bollywood movie Freaky Ali in their recent schedule.