The UAE has joined other Gulf countries in banning the aerial action film “Fighter,” featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. Despite its scheduled release today, the movie failed to obtain clearance from GCC Censors on January 10, resulting in its removal from all chains in the UAE.
Judging by the trailer, it’s evident that the film aimed to capitalize on the current nationalistic fervor in India, incorporating scenes that engage in Pakistan bashing, similar to “Gadar.” However, this strategy has backfired, leading to the ban in Gulf countries, including the UAE.
Last year, “Pathaan” and “Jawan” grossed around 120 crores. Even in the worst-case scenario, “Fighter” stands to lose at least 60-80 crores, a significant revenue setback.
What’s disheartening is that even the Indian audience isn’t showing much interest in “Fighter,” despite the inclusion of Pakistan-bashing elements. The lackluster music and uninteresting backdrop of aerial action haven’t captured the audience’s attention.
There is hope that positive word of mouth could potentially drive significant growth from the film’s second day, especially with the Republic Day holiday.
Stay tuned for our exclusive review, which will be available in a few hours.
