Knowing that Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani explores the relationship between Bajirao Peshwa and his Muslim wife Mastani, it has been a topic of hot discussion in the Indian subcontinent, however just a day before release, Bajirao mastani has failed to get a no objection certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) of Pakistan.

Reports in the The Express Tribune quote Mobasher Hasan, chairman of the CBFC explaining why the decision to not allow screening was made,“Firstly, the film is in Hindi and our ordinance does not allow Hindi films to be screened. Secondly, it is a historical drama that is indirectly against Islam and Muslims,”.

While speculations that intimate scenes and certain dialogues could have also played a part in the decision to ban the film, Hasan clarified that the reason for not allowing the release is not because of these reasons. The Pakistan's censor board has termed the film anti-islamic and has said that it cannot allow such a film to be released in Pakistan.

However, according to the local film distributors who called for a full board film review again, the board has agreed to review it previous decision. However the outcome is yet to declared.

In 2014 Vishal Bharadwaj's Haider was disallowed to be released in Pakistan by the CNFC in 2014 terming it as against the "ideology of Pakistan". Aamir Khan's PK that discussed religious oddities of India was also heavily edited before release in Pakistan.

Pakistan has three regional censor boards - Sindh Board of Film Certification (SBFC) in Karachi, Punjab Censor Board in Lahore, Central Board of film Certification (CBFC) of Pakistan in Islamabad.

Punjab and Sindh have approved the release of the movie and distributors hope that because regional boards of Punjab and Sindh have no objection to the film's release the CBFC might reconsider its decision and clear it for release however it appears to be a long shot.

While the final decision is yet to be made, Shah Rukh Khan's Diwale has been approved for release in Pakistan.