Bhatt moves court on smoking ban

Bhatt, who is in UK said, “We had long deliberations on the issue amid the presence of government officials and representatives of the civil society and reached a consensus to impose self-censorship”. Bhatt said despite this, the government went ahead and imposed the ban, which he added was a disappointment.

Bhatt has sought quashing of the notification, issued under Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Sale and Distribution) Act, 2003, terming it as a violation of the fundamental right of freedom of speech and

expression.

In the petition, Bhatt has contended that every film revolves around a theme, expressed through various characters and situations.

“In the depiction of a character or situation where the use of cigarette and other tobacco products is a matter of social customs or practice, any attempt to deviate from the contemporary setting of such social custom or practice would render the film unreal and unacceptable to audience,” the petition says.

Meanwhile, the Information an d Broadcasting ministry and the Health Ministry, which imposed the ban, have sought time to respond.

Palekar’s Paheli is India’s entry for Oscars

Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan-Rani Mukerji starrer Paheli will be India’s entry to the 78th Academy Awards in the foreign films category. A panel of 13 jurists from the Film Federation of India unanimously reached the decision in Mumbai last evening. It’s been exactly a week since the panelists began reviewing the 15 entries. Chairperson Vinod Pande said Paheli was selected because ‘‘it’s innovative and heart-rending. Also it depicts the Indian ethos in its music and locales.’’ Filmed in Rajasthan, Khan’s second production after Main Hoon Na, is a folktale about a ghost who falls in love with a married woman. —ENS