Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and actress Deepika Padukone’s anti-Pakistan film ‘Fighter’ has flopped.
According to Indian media reports, ‘Fighter’, which was released on January 25, did excellent business in the initial days, but gradually the film’s rule at the box office weakened.
The reports further state that the film has practically flopped on the fifth day of its release, with business dropping by 70-80 per cent after entering the 200 crore club on the fourth day. Indian film analysts say that despite having anti-Pakistan content, the film failed to attract a large number of viewers.
Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone play squadron leaders of the Indian Air Force, while Anil Kapoor depicts their commanding officer.
We’d feel bad for them, but hey, this is payback for propaganda.
Earlier this week, the Bollywood propaganda action movie ‘Fighter,’ featuring Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan, became a hot topic as it got banned in several Gulf countries. Initially, reports suggested that the ban affected many Gulf nations except the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, recent reports from trade analysts indicate that the movie is now facing a “suspension” in the UAE, as major theater chains have stopped bookings. The film’s distributor in the UAE had recently confirmed that the film will get released. The exact reason for the ban is not disclosed, but reports suggest it’s due to “some objectionable content in the film.” There were earlier speculations that ‘Fighter’ was supposed to be released in the UAE with a PG 15 rating before the ban.
Trade analyst Girish Johar confirmed the same. He stated on X, “In a setback, Fighter officially banned across Middle East regions for theatrical release. Only UAE will release the film with a PG15 classification!” Recent reports now claim that UAE has also banned the film, with confirmation from the film’s UAE distributor, as per Times of India.
The movie’s story, which revolves around India’s response to the attack in Pulwama, India-occupied Kashmir. Many in Pakistan disapproved of how the Pulwama attack was depicted in the film, claiming it “exploited a sensitive matter” and promoted an “anti-Pakistan” stance. It’s believed that this criticism, combined with the film’s controversial subject, influenced the decisions of the Gulf censor boards. Responding to these concerns, Siddharth Anand, the film’s director, urged the public to watch the entire film for context before forming an opinion based on the trailer. He emphasized that ‘Fighter’ aims to raise questions about terrorism, not to incite hostility against any nation. The main cast echoed the sentiment.
Even though ‘Fighter’ won’t be shown in some places, it will still be screened in theaters in India. The movie stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, along with Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, and Sanjeeda Shaikh in the cast. Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures worked together to produce the film.
In the world of entertainment, movies are a way to tell stories, represent cultures, and express art. But sometimes, a movie can cause problems when it goes too far and includes content that is offensive. Recently, a Bollywood movie called ‘Fighter’ landed in controversy after Pakistani celebrities strongly reacted to what they thought was anti-Pakistani element.
The film has been accused of showing Pakistan in a negative light and promoting harmful stereotypes.
At one point in the movie, Hrithik Roshan says, “We are the owners, Pakistan has occupied Kashmir. (maalik hum Hain)”
Actors like Zara Noor Abbas took to social media to express anger.
Actor Asad Siddiqui vented on Instagram by saying, “It’s the same old story! Aren’t you guys tired of selling false stuff? Grow up! The world is moving forward, and you’re still promoting this cheap story of hatred. You could have promoted peace instead.” He suggested checking facts that everyone knows, mentioning the incident where a MiG-21 was shot and the pilot was captured but released after a cup of tea.
Hira Khan, another showbiz star, also brought up the ‘tea’ incident, saying, “It’s sad that big superstars need to criticize Pakistan to make their movies work. I feel sorry for you guys.”
Adnan Siddiqui took to X to state, “Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it’s disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let’s use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better.”
Once celebrated for love, Bollywood now crafts hate-filled narratives, portraying us as villains. Despite our love for your films, it’s disheartening. Art transcends boundaries; let’s use it to promote love and peace. Two nations, victims of politics, deserve better.
Hania Aamir, who is liked by people from both sides of the border, shared on her Instagram Story, “It’s really sad and unfortunate to find out that there are artists today who know how influential cinema is but still go ahead and create differences between the two countries. I feel sorry for the artists who believe in using their art to bring people together. It’s not good. Let art be free.”
The controversy around ‘Fighter’ arose from its trailer, which revealed that the movie revolves around an attack on Indian air forces in Pulwama. It references real events like the Pulwama attack and India’s actions in Balakot.
