BJP leader and cine star, Shatrughan Sinha has objected on the ban of Bhojpuri films starring famous actors Ravi Kishan and Mithun Chakraborty.

The Bihar and Jharkhand Motion Pictures Association (BJMPA), a body of filmmakers, theatre owners and distributors of the two states, recently banned screening of the films of actors Ravi Kishan and Mithun Chakraborty in the two states.

Satrugan Sinha said, "Such bans will lead to growth of regionalism. You cannot ban Mithun's film in Bihar because he is a Bengali or Ravi Kishan's films because he is a native of UP."

There should not be any restriction on art and artists anywhere. The BJMPA members and the banned actors should sit together and sort out the differences.

“I appeal to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to look into the matter as it is giving a bad name to his government, otherwise known for good governance,” Sinha added.

The problem began in December last year, when Mithun complained to Cinema and TV Artists Association, an affiliate of Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), against Vijaya Laxmi Movies Pvt. Ltd. and producer Sunil Kumar. He alleged that 'Coolie', a Bangla film starring him, was being dubbed in Bhojpuri without his consent.

When Bhojpuri superstar, Ravi Kishan came out in support of Mithun, the BJMPA promptly banned his movies as well in the two states.

Ravi Kishan currently has about a dozen films in various stages of production and half a dozen more ready for release and a ban on his films will mean huge losses for the producers.

Both FWICE and Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) have also written separate letters to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, seeking his intervention in the matter.