INOX Cinemas restart advance bookings for 'MNIK' in Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 10 (IANS) Multiplex chain INOX Cinemas restarted advance bookings for 'My Name is Khan' here Wednesday evening after shutting it down for much of the day due to the threat of violent protests by Shiv Sena activists.

'Advance booking is now on at our halls,' an official from INOX Cinemas told IANS.

Cinema halls in India's film capital had stopped advance bookings for the Shah Rukh Khan starrer following violent protests by Shiv Sena activists Tuesday. On Wednesday, the violence was restricted to tearing of hoardings, at least till the afternoon.

Multiplex chains like PVR and Cinemax halted their advance bookings for the film in the morning, as did single screen theatres like Mehul in Mulund and Shreyas in Ghatkopar, their officials said. Fun Cinemas also halted advance bookings.

Activists of the right wing Shiv Sena continued to demonstrate against the movie since Shah Rukh supported the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The activists have been vandalising cinema halls and tearing up hoardings, despite the Mumbai Police assuring security cover at the 63 cinema halls and multiplexes that are still scheduled to show the movie here from Friday.

Set in post 9/11 US, the film also features actress Kajol.