Pak to ban 'Bajirao Mastani' for perceived anti-Islam tilt

A day before its scheduled release, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani,' which has been the talk of the town ever since its inception, seems to be facing the chill wind in Pakistan.

Despite its overhype, the film that explores the relationship between Bajirao Peshwa and his Muslim wife Mastani, failed to receive a no-objection certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in Pakistan on Wednesday, The Express Tribune reported.

Mobasher Hasan, chairman of the CBFC, stated two reasons; one, the film is in Hindi and their ordinance does not allow Hindi films to be screened and second, it is a historical drama that is indirectly against Islam and Muslims.

Hasan further clarified that though there are intimate scenes in the Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone-starrer, they were not a major concern for the panel.

However, local distributors have called for a full board review of the film, once again and the outcome is yet to be declared.

December 18 is going witness the much-hyped box office clash between 'Bajirao Mastani' and Rohit Shetty's directorial 'Dilwale.