From Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees to Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, these Indian films were banned in Pakistan.
After the 2019 Pulwama attack and the Balakot airstrike, Pakistan has banned the release of Indian films. But before this blanket ban, these popular Indian movies were also banned by the neighbouring nation.
1. Haider
The 2014 release Haider, directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, was banned because it was set amidst the Kashmir insurgency in 1995. The film starred Shahid Kapoor, Tabu, Kay Kay Menon, Shraddha Kapoor, and late Irrfan Khan. Adapted from William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Haider went on to receive five National Film Awards in India.
2. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil
Starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, the 2016 romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil was banned due to the India-Pakistan border conflict after the 2016 Uri attack. The film was directed, written, and produced by Karan Johar under his banner Dharma Productions.
3. Raees
Featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, the Rahul Dholakia directorial Raees was banned because the Pakistani censor body named Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC) claimed that the 2017 film "undermines Islam, and a specific religious sect, portrays Muslims as criminals, wanted persons and terrorists."
4. Dangal
The 2016 release Dangal was banned in Pakistan because Aamir Khan refused the Pakistani CBFC's demand to remove the scenes featuring the Indian National Flag and Indian National Anthem. The sports drama, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is the highest-grossing Indian film of all time with its worldwide earnings of over Rs 2000 crore.
5. Raazi
Headlined by Alia Bhatt and starring Vicky Kaushal, Jaideep Ahlawat, Rajit Kapur, Shishir Sharma, and Soni Razdan in supporting roles, the 2018 release Raazi was banned as it showed an Indian intelligence agent spying on Pakistan for India after getting married into a Pakistani family. The spy drama was directed by Meghna Gulzar.
6. Udta Punjab
Written and directed by Abhishek Chaubey, the 2016 release Udta Punjab was banned in Pakistan as it cited the neighbouring nation as one of the reasons behind the problem of drug abuse in Punjab and due to its abusive language. The crime drama featured Shahid Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Kareeena Kapoor Khan, and Diljit Dosanjh.