In an unexpected turn of events, the highly anticipated Bollywood film “Fighter,” starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone and directed by Siddharth Anand, has been officially banned across Middle East regions for theatrical release, excluding the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Girish, a prominent film industry insider, took to Twitter to share the setback, stating, “In a setback, #Fighter officially banned across Middle East regions for theatrical release. Only UAE will release the film with PG15 classification!”
Surprisingly, the reason behind the ban has not been disclosed, leaving fans and industry enthusiasts speculating about the potential factors that led to this decision. The film’s team is yet to provide an official statement addressing the ban in Gulf countries.
Despite the setback in the Middle East, “Fighter” is set to hit Indian theaters on January 25. The aerial action thriller, produced by Viacom18 Studios in collaboration with Marflix Pictures, boasts a stellar cast, including Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, and Akshay Oberoi.
Siddharth Anand, the director, expressed his sentiments about the film, describing it as more than just a project for him and his wife Mamta, co-founders of the film company Marflix. “Fighter” is billed as a tribute to the valor, sacrifice, and patriotism of the Indian armed forces.
The absence of a green light from the censor board in Gulf countries has left the international release of “Fighter” hanging in uncertainty. As fans eagerly await official statements from the film’s makers regarding the ban, the focus remains on the Indian release, where the film is expected to make waves on January 25.
