Shah Rukh Khan's Raees costar, Mahira Khan, was set to give Salman Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan competition with her Pakistani film, Bin Roye, this Friday. But the actress from across the border has been stonewalled by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and will have to wait till next Eid to be unveiled in the state. Her upcoming film will not open in Maharashtra.

Confirming this, Ameya Khopkar, President of the Maharashtra Navnirman Chitrapat Karmachari Sena, the film wing of the MNS, told Mirror, “We opposed the release of the film in Maharashtra since it is a Pakistani film. They have agreed to our demand and it is a victory for us. We don't want a Pakistani film here when they are attacking us.“ B4U which is releasing the film in India, in a letter to Khopkar, stated that “as discussed and agreed by you, we hereby confirm that we shall not exhibit the film titled Bin Roye in Maharashtra state only and you have no objection to release the said film anywhere else in India“.

Duraid Qureshi, CEO of Hum Network and husband of the film's producer Momina Qureshi, was taken aback by the news. “It's a love story and has been cleared by the Indian censor board,“ he exclaimed. When told that it had nothing to do with the censors and everything to do with politics which was opposed to a cultural exchange between the two countries he retorted, “But the cultural exchange is already there? Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is singing in India, Bajrangi Bhaijaan will release here and Shah Rukh Khan is doing a film with Mahira. I don't understand this kind of politics.“

Nadeem Mandviwalla, a leading producer, distributor and exhibitor in Pakistan, reacted saying, “I feel that the process which we have fought for allowing Indian films in Pakistan legitimately is now being jeopardised by Indian states themselves. The repercussions of such acts can be detrimental for both film industries. It's a sad day today as the state of Maharashtra has given reason to start the debate once again which lasted for more than 40 years, from 1965 to 2006.“

Mahira Khan will be landing on Indian shores a year before her big Bollywood debut, the Shah Rukh Khan starrer, Raees. It is being hyped as one of the two big Eid releases of 2016, the other is Salman Khan's Sultan. But before that, this Eid, Ms Khan will be seen in a Pakistani film, Bin Roye, which will release alongside Salman's Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

Speaking from Lahore, she dismisses any talk of competition, pointing out that while the Salman-starrer will open in 1000-plus screens, her story of love and loss will probably not get more than 50. “I've been waiting for my film for a while now. Every three months, I was told it is opening. Bas ab cinema mein lag jaye,“ sighs Mahira.

While her film will be an Eid attraction in India, Salman's cross-border story has yet to be cleared in Pakistan. “I'm told that Bajrangi Bhaijaan has some Pakistani elements which could become an issue even though Indian films always play to packed theatres here,“ she reasons. “One of our really big hits, Waar, couldn't be released in your country because of some Indian elements. It's what I call 'cinema politics'.“

On her part, she can't wait to work with Salman whose every film she's seen, starting with Maine Pyar Kiya. “But the script must be good. Fortunately, not just in Pakistan but in India too, actors are experimenting with different roles. It's a great time for cinema, globally,“ she rejoices.

What's her role like in Raees? Mahira instantly clams up, refusing to even mention Shah Rukh Khan or their film together. “Don't ask me anything about either,“ she pleads, refusing to even list her favourite SRK films.

However, when prodded on whether the makers of Raees are upset about her soft launch in India, having planned to keep her under wraps for the next 12 months, she unbends to say, “They haven't said anything to me. Both are very different films. Raees is my Bollywood debut while Bin Roye is a Pakistani film I'm representing in India.“

Meanwhile, her TV series with Fawad Khan, Humsafar, has become very popular in India. And Mahira cannot be happier. She described Fawad as a professional, focused co-star who helped her pull off her rather difficult role. “We didn't interact much on the sets then, but we share a friendly equation now,“ she says.

Few remember Mahira as Atif Aslam's pop singer mate in 2011 Pakistani drama, Bol, in which she had a small role to play. Bring up the topic and she says dismissively, “A lot of people in Pakistan were asking me why was I doing that role? But I really wanted to work with Shoaib Mansoor, so I did it,“ she says.

Mahira herself had earlier hosted a ly TV talk show, TUC-The Lighter Side of Life, popularly known as Turqi Ba Turqi which is along the lines of Karan Johar's Koffee with Karan. Bring up the similarity and she retorts, “Karan Johar is very good at what he does. I'm going to stick to acting. They wanted me for another season but I really can't do it.“ Hypothetically, if they were to bring the show to India who would she want to interview? “Shah Rukh Khan... Madhuri Dixit...Rekha... Karan Johar,“ she ticks off. “They have all inspired me in some way. And yes, Mr Amitabh Bachchan... And Guru Dutt, had he been alive.“