'Fighter': Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone starrer banned in Gulf countries? Here's what we know

Siddharth Anand's 'Fighter', starring Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor, is all set to hit the theatres on January 25. Ahead of its theatrical release, the action thriller has reportedly been banned in all Gulf countries barring UAE.

According to Pinkvilla, Siddharth Anand and his team faced a significant setback as their film, ‘Fighter,’ failed to receive clearance from the GCC Censors. The censor screening took place on January 10, 2024, and on January 23, it was officially announced that the film would not be released in most Gulf countries. While the specific reason for this decision remains undisclosed, it is likely due to content that the censors found either highly disturbing or objectionable.

Notably, there has been a recent instance of ‘Tiger 3’ being banned in Kuwait and Qatar. Consequently, ‘Fighter’ could potentially miss out on a substantial revenue ranging from $500,000 to $1 million due to the denial of clearance by the GCC Censors in the Gulf countries.

Advance bookings

‘Fighter’ has received reasonable advance bookings for its opening day, with approximately 70,000 tickets sold in top national cinema chains at the time of this publication. The film aims to achieve ticket sales ranging from 1.5 to 1.75 lakh in popular national chains like PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis. Initially, the goal for ‘Fighter’ is to reach a box office collection of around Rs 25 crores on its opening day and subsequently experience a significant surge on the second day, coinciding with Republic Day. Over the four-day weekend, the total box office collection for ‘Fighter’ in India is expected to surpass the Rs 100 crores nett mark.

About the Film

‘Fighter’ follows the journey of Shamsher Pathania (portrayed by Hrithik Roshan) as he fulfills his lifelong dream of becoming a member of the Indian Air Force. Faced with demanding challenges, Shamsher must overcome his own limitations to emerge as a true hero.

Release Date

‘Fighter’ is set to hit theatres on January 25, 2024, making it the first major Bollywood release of the year. The movie, featuring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone, promises thrilling aerial action and will be screening at a cinema near you from the aforementioned date.

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