LAHORE – Senior Punjab Minister Maryam Aurangzeb has expressed regret over the ban placed on Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan’s blockbuster film Dangal, calling it a decision she now deeply regrets.
In a recent interview with actor Umar Butt, Maryam Aurangzeb spoke on various topics. When asked about a compromise she wishes she had not made, she candidly replied, “Banning Dangal was something that should not have happened.”
Explaining her decision at the time, Aurangzeb said she had just been appointed as the Information Minister and had not yet seen the film. During a meeting with the censor board, they presented reasons for banning it. Since Indian films were already under a broader ban, Dangal was also added to the list without much individual scrutiny.
However, she added that she finally watched Dangal about a year and a half later and immediately felt the weight of the mistake. “Since then, I have carried this burden,” she admitted, highlighting the impact the movie had on her after viewing it.
Released in 2016, Dangal was a massive hit worldwide and earned critical acclaim. The film portrayed the inspiring true story of wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters, who broke gender stereotypes in the sport of wrestling.
Aurangzeb’s statement has sparked a conversation online, with many applauding her honesty and calling for a more thoughtful approach to cultural bans in the future.