Just moments ago, Shah Rukh Khan exited the home of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray after a meeting which was also attended by Raees co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani.
The agenda was to reach an accord with the politician so that the release of Raees is not threatened, a la Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
The Karan Johar flick which featured Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo, faced protests from MNS workers who wanted a ban on the film in the wake of the Uri attacks. (Oh No! MNS Gives A Final Warning To Multiplex Owners Days Before Ae Dil
Hai Mushkil’s Release Oct 18th 2016)
After MNS threatened to derail ADHM’s release, Karan had to pledge Rs 5 crore to an Army fund, which however the Army refused to accept.
After the meeting with Shah Rukh, Raj Thackeray addressed the media and announced that MNS and the makers of Raees have reached an agreement. “Mahira will be a part of Raees but Shah Rukh told me that she will not be coming to India to promote the film. We will make sure that until the Indo-Pak relations do not improve, no Pakistani actor will be cast in any of our films,” said the politician emphatically.
Mahira's stint in Bollywood hit a major roadblock when film industry associations decided to ban Pakistani artistes from Bollywood in light of the worsening bilateral ties between the countries. (IMPPA Bans Pakistani Artistes Sept 29th 2016)
Then there was the rising public sentiment against Pakistani artistes which led to rumours that Mahira has been replaced in Raees.
But the trailer gave plenty of screen time to Mahira and it looks like the actress has a prominent role in the film.
It was during the trailer launch that Ritesh Sidhwani had announced that Mahira may return to India to promote the film. "If required, we will ask Mahira to come and promote the film. Government ne visa dene se manaa nahi kiya hai," he had then said. Anyway, that won't happen for sure now.
Well, all's well that ends well...
Image Source: Manav Manglani