'Dirty Picture' needn't have been banned in Pakistan'

"The Dirty Picture", which features Vidya Balan in her boldest avatar ever, has been banned in Pakistan for being too explicit, but Girish Johar of production house Balaji Motion Pictures feels it didn't deserve such treatment.

"The film, to be released Friday, was rejected by them (Pakistan)," head of acquisition and distribution at Balaji Motion Pictures, told IANS.

"The Dirty Picture", which has got an A-certificate from the censor board, was due to release across over 50 screens in Pakistan.

According to Johar, the reason behind the ban was the "too explicit and bold" content of the movie, which also features Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah.

Despite Vidya's skin show and titillating portrayal of a 1980s' dancing star, Johar says the film didn't deserve to be banned.

"Of course not, it didn't deserve to be banned. 'The Dirty Picture' fans, Emraan fans, Vidya fans and 'Ooh la la' fans in Pakistan, all are disappointed," he added.

The narrative of the movie, is said to have been inspired by late southern sex siren Silk Smitha.