"The film has not released officially there, but it is very sad that this has happened. Today I was doing a live chat and there are several of my fans who are from Pakistan... Since my films have done well in Pakistan, they're all watching pirated copies of the film over there," Sonam said at a press conference in Mumbai. "It's a matter of sadness, I am very disappointed," the actress added.
The film is based on the life of Neerja Bhanot, the air hostess who sacrificed her life while saving passengers on board hijacked Pan Am flight 73.
The film released in India on February 19, but it was banned in Pakistan for reportedly showing the country in a poor light.
Sonam, who has essayed the role of Neerja Bhanot in the film, says she is unable to understand the reason behind the ban.
"I can't understand it, but I think this is all politics between both sides. I had said this before, there is no place for politics in art and sports and unfortunately that's what has happened," she said.
"It is very sad that it's not released in Pakistan, because more than 60 years ago, we were the same country. When I was in boarding school, Indians and Pakistanis would always hang out. We look similar, have a similar culture... Except for cricket matches, we were always together. I can't understand the reason why it's not released there, it can't be that complicated," she added.
The director of the film, Ram Madhvani, had recently stated that he hoped that Pakistan would reconsider the ban, and Shabana Azmi, who plays Sonam's mother in "Neerja", had reiterated his views.
