Ahead of the upcoming release of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Dilwale', a right-wing group here has threatened movie theatres in the city against screening the film as it objected to comments by the Bollywood superstar on the intolerance debate.
The announcement by Hind Rashtra Sanghatan (HRS), a little -known outfit, that it will oppose the screening of the film has prompted the Film Federation of India (FFI) to seek the necessary preventive actions from authorities here.
The film, which also stars Kajol, is set for release on December 18.
"We've met police and civil authorities and requested them to take stern action against HRS," FFI president Jaiprakash Chowksey said today.
"The authorities should ensure that the screening is not hindered as the film has been cleared by censor board," he added.
An FFI delegation will also meet Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and request him to instruct the police and the officials concerned to take the necessary steps to allow the smooth screening of the film, he said.
HRS has put up banners here saying it will vandalise any cinema halls screening the film.
HRS head Rajesh Shirodkar, who claimed he was also a BJP member, said Shah Rukh was making "irresponsible statements" over intolerance and that it has vitiated the atmosphere in the country.
He said his organisation has appealed to film distributors and cinema-hall owners to not screen the film.
On his 50th birthday, Shah Rukh had expressed concern over rising intolerance in the country amidst a raging debate on the issue.
The development here comes even as a group affiliated to MNS in Maharashtra today appealed to the people to boycott the film as it charged that the actor had "ignored the plight of farmers reeling under severe drought" in the state.
