Aiyaary banned in Pakistan, Neeraj Pandey’s run-in with the country continues

Aiyaary features Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee in the roles of army officers who want to bring the corruption within the system to the forefront.

Aiyaary has become Neeraj Pandey’s third film to be banned in Pakistan. His Baby and Naam Shabana were earlier refused release in Pakistan as well. Satish Anand, who was supposed to distribute Aiyaary in Pakistan, said, “The film is banned. Its content was disapproved.”

Manoj Bajpayee and Sidharth Malhotra at SRCC North Campus on 12 February 2018 in New Delhi, India. (Photo: Sarang Gupta/ Hindustan Times)

The spokesperson for the film in India too confirmed the development to IANS.

Neeraj Pandey spoke to Deccan Chronicle about his film’s release in Pakistan. He said, “I don’t think I am a problem. It has to be the film. The theme (Aiyaary) is very patriotic and doesn’t cut well there. Even MS Dhoni was not allowed to be shown in Pakistan.”

In an earlier interview with PTI, Pandey said, “I never plan anything. Whenever I plan, things never work out. I wanted to make a love story as my first film, it did not happen. It just refuses to happen. So I have stopped planning. I chase ideas that I am terribly excited about. I won’t say I am satisfied or dissatisfied. I am chasing creative satisfaction.”

Aiyaary features Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee in the roles of army officers who want to bring the corruption within the system to the forefront.

In India, the movie got a green signal for release after the Central Board of Film Certification reviewed the film, followed by a screening for the Ministry of Defence, which prescribed certain modifications.

Aiyaary is already released in India.

(With inputs from agencies)