The reason is yet to be divulged, whether it is over content or something else; the anticipated Bollywood film 'Fighter,' starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, has met with a denial of release in all Gulf countries, except the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to film producer and trade expert Girish Johar, ‘Fighter’ has officially been banned across Middle East regions, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. The only exception appears to be the UAE, where the film will be released with a PG15 classification.
The reasons behind the ban remain undisclosed, as authorities in the Middle Eastern countries have reportedly withheld the certificate for the film. Girish Johar speculates that the ban could be linked to either requested changes by the censors or concerns about the film's theme, which might be perceived as against a particular section of society.
"They (The Middle Eastern countries) have withheld the certificate for their countries, but they haven’t spelt out a particular reason. Barring UAE where the film has got PG15 rating, maybe they’ve asked for certain changes or probably it is the theme of the film which they think is against a particular section of the society. There’s nothing official that we have come to know, it is probably a work in progress," Johar stated.
The film, directed by Siddharth Anand, features Hrithik Roshan as Squadron Leader Shamsher Pathania and Deepika Padukone as Squadron Leader Minal Rathore. Veteran actor Anil Kapoor plays the role of Group Captain Rakesh Jai Singh.
The storyline revolves around the Pulwama terror attack and India's response at Balakot, showcasing the Indian armed forces dealing with a threat from Pakistan, specifically Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir.
The censorship screening for ‘Fighter’ occurred on January 10, and on Tuesday (January 23), it was announced that the film won't be released in most Gulf countries. While there is confirmation of the non-release in these countries, the Fighter team has yet to provide an official statement regarding the matter.