Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India today said MNS' call to end the protest against "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" will not affect its decision to ban the film's screening in four states-- Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka but it is open to discussion with director Karan Johar.
COEAI announced last week that it won't screen films with Pakistani actors putting "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" in trouble as it stars Fawad Khan. The film is set to hit theatres on October 28 just before Diwali.
"The stand we took earlier continues even now. The final stand will be taken by the executive committee on Monday. We can't talk about the future but right now we stick to our stand."
"Our stand was not according to MNS. Ours is different. MNS sat with them and discusses the issue and sorted it out... Karan Johar should come to us and talk to us... There is always a solution," Nitin Datar, who is the President of COEAI, told PTI.
MNS' decision to officially call off the protests came after Johar, Producers' Guild President Mukesh Bhatt and Raj Thackeray met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at his residence 'Varsha' here this morning.
When asked if COEAI is ready to meet Johar, Datar said, "Why should any association or person refuse to talk? If MNS can solve the problem why others can't do that? It does not mean the problem will get solved but unless you come together how can we say anything? They solved the problem by discussing 'patriotic terms' and paying money and Karan Johar agreed to that.
"Regarding our problem and dealing, he has to call us. Someone has to approach. This is the statement I gave earlier also that there is always a scope for settlement.
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