Bollywood superstar Salman Khan batted for re-opening of the cinema halls in the Valley, which were shut down after the eruption of militancy in the state.
Addressing the media in Sonamarg on Sunday, Salman said, "Please open cinema halls, pay tax. It will also help me earn more money.''
"I would love to (have them re-opened). They should be opened definitely because many people here watch movies and they watch them either on television or pirated DVDs. From grandfather to grandchildren, they all watch movies. Theatres should definitely be here because I think all of you love movies and love entertainment," he said.
With cinema audiences dwindling, following the militant ban on films, security forces converted four of Srinagar's eight theatres into makeshift camps and interrogation centres.
Militants had banned wine shops and beauty parlours as un-Islamic after 1989. The only operational theatre in Kashmir is Neelam cinema, which draws a handful of viewers every week.
Terming last year's floods in Kashmir unfortunate, Salman said that his organisation -- Being Human -- had supported and will continue its support to put the Valley back on track.
The Bollywood superstar also traced his roots to the state, saying his maternal grandfather was from Jammu.
{{/usCountry}}The Bollywood superstar also traced his roots to the state, saying his maternal grandfather was from Jammu.
{{/usCountry}}