Ayushmann Khurrana's recently released film Article 15 found itself in fresh troubles. As per a report in a leading daily, screenings of Article 15 in theatres were banned in Roorkee, Uttarakhand over law and order concerns. The screening of the same was prohibited by an order from the office of Roorkee's Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ravindra Singh Negi on Saturday. Ravindra, in an interview with the daily, told that after a meeting with representatives of Hindu Sena, they came to a conclusion of imposing a ban in Uttarakhand citing poor portrayal of the Brahmin community in the film.

“Representatives of Hindu Sena met me on Friday and expressed their concerns that the film, Article 15, portrays a particular community in a poor light. They demanded a ban on the screening. My view was that if the film is screened in the city, it could lead to law and order issues,” Ravindra told the daily. Dodging questions on why he felt that the film would lead to law and order concerns only in Roorkee and not the rest of the state, Negi told he could only comment upon the law and order situation in the area under his jurisdiction.

Ayushmann Khurrana in a still from Article 15

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Adding further, Roorkee Station House Officer (SHO) Amarjeet Singh quoted, “We received the orders and ensured that they were enforced. As of now, the film isn’t being screened in the city.” An employee at the theatre, at the condition of anonymity, said, “We don’t want to invite any trouble, particularly because the SDM’s order states that we will be held responsible if something untoward happens.”

The order of ban was issued to RR Cinema, the only theatre in Roorkee asking to cancel its shows. Although Roorkee falls in the Haridwar district, Article 15 continues to be screened in the city of Haridwar. Apart from Uttarakhand, Article 15 was banned in Kanpur soon after its nationwide release. This isn't the first time when any Bollywood film has been banned in Uttarakhand as Sara Ali Khan debut film Kedarnath faced the same fate.

(Source: Bombay Times)