Pak theatres showing Indian films again

MUMBAI: Pakistani theaters have begun screening of Bollywood films again after a 11-week boycott in response to military and political tensions with India, theater managers said.

Some theater owners said the restart was owing to easing of tension, but others said it was because audience had dropped drastically since the boycott from 30 September. Atrium Cinema in Karachi started screening Freaky Ali without publicity posters, according to Reuters.

Punjab Super Cinemas general manager Khurram Gultasab said that the absence of Bollywood content was resulting in loss of over 80 per cent customers. Mandviwalla Entertainment’s Nadeem Mandviwalla said the resumption was a step toward warming ties.

Cinema owners across Pakistan reportedly suffered a loss of about Rs 150 million (Rs 15 crore) and cost around 100 employees their jobs since the non-screening of Indian movies.