Videos of the Bollywood film "Kabul Express" are easily available in the black market here despite a ban slapped on it by Afghan authorities, with the price of its copies registering an increase in the past few days.

Four days after the Afghan government banned the film's screening in the country due to fears that certain derogatory remarks in it about Shia Hazaras might offend the minority community, the rental rate for "Kabul Express" has shot up to 30 Afghanis as against 10 Aghanis for other films in the local market.

The price of a DVD of the film has jumped from 50 Afghanis (one dollar) to 100 Afghanis, but people said getting hold of copies was no problem.

Many who have seen director Kabir Khan's film after the ban told that when it was easy to grow and buy opium in the country, it was "ludicrous" to believe that the sale of a film can be stopped.

Some also pointed out the official curb on public screenings is meaningless as Afghanistan does not have many cinemas and as the film is yet to be released in the country.

The Hazaras, who form only about 15 per cent of the population, are generally poor, and have traditionally suffered social discrimination. The ban helped to take the sting out of fiery speeches condemning the film and seeking its ban that were made at a meeting at Khatimulanbiah mosque in Dashtbarchi locality here, where many Hazaras live.

Slogans of "murdabad" were shouted against popular Afghan star Hanif Hum Ghum, who has a prominent role in "Kabul Express". The actor was not available for comments and appeared to have gone underground.