The highly anticipated Bollywood action-thriller ‘Fighter,’ starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, was scheduled for release in the UAE on Saturday, January 27. However, residents are now facing difficulties accessing showtimes or booking tickets for the film.
Previously, Indian media reports indicated that the movie would be banned across the Gulf, except in the UAE, where it was expected to be screened with a PG15 rating. Contrary to these reports, customer care representatives from VOX and Reel Cinemas have confirmed to Khaleej Journal that authorities in the UAE have suspended the film.
A customer care agent from Reel Cinemas stated, “The film has been suspended by the Dubai authorities; it has been red-flagged in all cinemas. We have no further information as of now.” The distributor of the film in the UAE, Home Screen Entertainment, also took to social media to announce the suspension of ‘Fighter’s’ release.
As of now, the film is not listed on any cinema websites in the UAE, although previously decided show timings can be found through a Google search.
The UAE National Media Council, the official regulatory authority for films in the country, has yet to issue an official statement regarding the film’s suspension.
‘Fighter’ is a war-based movie centered around members of the Indian Air Force, depicting the lives of Shamsher Pathania (Hrithik Roshan) and Minal Rathor (Deepika Padukone) as they navigate India’s national security challenges.
This incident is not the first time a film has faced suspension or delay in the UAE. In 2023, the world’s highest-grossing film, ‘Barbie,’ experienced a delayed release in the country, with shifting release dates. Similarly, Disney-Pixar’s animated film ‘Lightyear’ was not screened in the UAE in 2022, with the country’s Media Regulatory Office citing violations of “the country’s media content standards” in an Instagram post. Additionally, in 2022, the Malayalam film ‘Sita Ramam’ faced a
delayed release, portraying a storyline set against the backdrop of the Indian Army during a time of war.
