Single screen theatres to release 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' defying COEAI directive

Single screen theatres defy directive by cinema owners' association to boycott Karan Johar's romance-drama 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'; ask, 'why should we suffer losses?'

Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil

On October 22, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) gave the go-ahead to the release of Karan Johar's romance-drama 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. However, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) president Nitin Datar had said that the decision would not affect their stand on blocking it from single screen cinema halls.

COEAI had earlier announced that they have 450 members registered across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and parts of Karnataka and none of them would screen any film featuring Pakistani artistes here on. But it seems that their decision fell on deaf ears as most of the single screens in Mumbai are releasing the film starring Fawad Khan, and advance booking are fast filling up thanks to the curiosity generated by the controversy.

Manoj Desai, executive director of cinema hall Maratha Mandir in Mumbai Central, said, "We have given two shows to the film. Most of the single screens have started their advance booking so why should I suffer losses? The state government, along with Karan Johar and the MNS, had taken the decision to allow the film's screening."

The manager of Paradise cinema in Mahim said, "We haven't got any intimation from anyone about boycotting the film. It's the festive season and we always had plans of showing it."

When mid-day contacted Chitra Cinemas of Dadar, a spokesperson said there was a lot of demand for the tickets of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'. "I am not sure but COEAI too has settled the issue. We opened the advance booking yesterday and have seen a lot of rush for the tickets. The crowds are curious about the story."

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