Though lauded for its light-hearted depiction of Pak-India relations, Happy Bhag Jayegi has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. Earlier, actress Momal Sheikh came under fire for commenting that Bollywood was warmer and kinder. However, controversy was fuelled to its peak when the film got banned in Pakistan for a scene that involved Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait. Despite having a Pakistani actress on board, the makers could not get their film screened in the country.
Though lauded for its light-hearted depiction of Pak-India relations, Happy Bhag Jayegi has been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately. Earlier, actress Momal Sheikh came under fire for commenting that Bollywood was warmer and kinder. However, controversy was fuelled to its peak when the film got banned in Pakistan for a scene that involved Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s portrait. Despite having a Pakistani actress on board, the makers could not get their film screened in the country.
In light of these events, when the producer of the film was asked if India was more accepting of Pakistani talent, he couldn’t agree more.
“Yes, definitely,” he responded to Hindustan Times, adding that the Indian film industry “understands creativity better but I don’t think we can compare the two countries.” Speaking more on the ban of his innocent, runaway bride comedy, the producer said, “It is sad for the people of Pakistan. They have been deprived of so many things because of political pressures. I feel proud to be a part of a country, where I have the freedom to express myself.”
Recently, the film’s director Mudassar Aziz also wrote a long, emotional letter to Pakistan’s censor board questioning them of the reason behind the ban and challenged them to let it run on screens and see how every Pakistani enjoys it. So far, however, the film’s fate in Pakistan seems sealed with a big stamp saying banned.
