Daily Times

MUMBAI/KARACHI: Salman Khan has got a huge fan following in Pakistan and arguably one of the biggest markets for his films, but release of an upcoming flick starring Dabang Khan in the country may hit snags.

Pakistan Film Exhibitors Association Chairman Zohraiz Lashari told an Indian news agency PTI that “pricing issue” is a hurdle in importing ‘Tubelight’. “They are asking for a big price to import ‘Tubelight’,” he said.

On whether the film will get the censor board approval, he said, “I don’t see that the censor board will have an issue with ‘Tubelight’ because of some content related to China. The issue is who will take a chance here to buy it for a big price.”

Some distributors do fear that the censor board might have a problem with the film which is set against the backdrop of 1962 India-China war.

“Pakistani distributors may not be interested in importing ‘Tubelight’ because of this factor as well as the controversial content about India-China war. The censor board may also raise some objections to it,” he said.

The poster of Salman Khan-starrer ‘Tubelight’ had recently created an internet buzz hours after it was released, with fans speculating that the flick could break ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ box office record.

The makers shared a Hindi version of the poster, which was produced by Salma Khan and the ‘Dabangg’ actor himself. The film is helmed by Kabir Khan and it also features Chinese actress and singer Zhu Zhu.

The poster, which has created a mystery with Salman donning a pair of shoes around his neck, has surely made the fans more curious to know more.

The film is set to release on Eid this year.

Khan has always struggled in keeping himself away from controversies, and recently an unwanted hullabaloo dragged him in the issue concerning his co-star, Zhu Zhu, in upcoming flick ‘Tubelight’.

The Chinese actress seemed completely oblivion of Indian culture and media and that’s the reason she was getting more media attention than any other cast of the project.

A fan-made poster of ‘Tubelight’.

Bollywood Life in its recent report said that Zhu Zhu would go out clubbing, every single night after wrapping up the shoot of the Kabir Khan film. She is so full of life that not only Salman is in awe of his new co-star but the entire cast is loving her company.

Apart from the actress’s popularity, the film ‘Tubelight’ is under discussion at social platforms for being a copy of Hollywood flick ‘Little Boy’. And such reports are doing the rounds on the Internet with just a slight difference in the storyline, reported the Times of India.

The movie, which is directed by Kabir Khan, stars Chinese actress Zhu Zhu as the actor’s leading lady. And now, according to an entertainment portal, she will also be the lucky one to watch the film first! Reportedly, the first trial of the movie will be organised for the actress and her family.

Initially it was reported that director Kabir Khan had roped in Deepika with Salman, but later the deal could not materialise.

Deepika was the frontrunner for the movie. Sources, as quoted by the Bollywood Life, close to the project had revealed that the actress was keen to work with Salman and was thrilled at being offered a role in this film.

However, Deepika felt that there was not much substance in the character and insisted that Kabir ensure she had a meaty role to play. On this one condition, Deepika seemed to have agreed to work on this mega project. However, source close to the film later revealed that the actress was not considered for the movie for undisclosed reasons.

Where on one side, ‘Little Boy’ plays on the lines of a father and son story, rumour has it that ‘Tubelight’ will highlight the bond between two brothers played by Salman and Sohail.

To those who haven’t watched Little Boy it is a war fantasy drama film where Pepper – the little boy gets ruthlessly mocked by his classmates because of his small stature. The film is a pretty harsh depiction of the bullying he suffers.

However, the story gets under way when Pepper’s father and chief protector goes off to war and then is reported missing in action, probably a Japanese prisoner.

Pepper then gets desperate to have his father return, and the local priest encourages him to believe that if he has enough faith, he may have the capacity to alter the course of the war; eventually leading to Pepper’s unbelievable mission to find his father against all odds and fears.

“Published in Daily Times, June 20th, 2017.”