Chennai Express gets MNS green signal

MNS has withdrawn its threat to disrupt the release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Chennai Express. The decision comes after a meeting between the film’s director Rohit Shetty and MNS chief Raj Thackeray Thursday morning.

The party was unhappy that the film,upon release on August 9,would take up prime slots at single screens in Maharashtra that have been screening Sanjay Jadhav’s Marathi film Duniyadari. The film,which hit the screens on July 19,has been doing well. Amey Khopkar,head of the party’s entertainment wing,had threatened to stall the release of Chennai Express. “We received a complaint from Duniyadari producer Nanu Singhania that the Marathi film was being edged out by the Bollywood film,” said Khopkar. He had also written to theatre owners demanding a commitment that they would not pull out Duniyadari.

“Rohit assured MNS that Chennai Express distributors won’t go by the deal they struck with single screens and the theatres can continue to play the Marathi film,” said a source.

Shetty said they were merely sorting out confusion.

dipti.nagpaul@expressindia.com