The producers of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had recently met with MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis to resolve the issue of the Bollywood release during Diwali. Maharashtra CM Fadnavis said he mediated so that no tension brews during the festive season. MNS had threatened to incite violence at the multiplexes which screened Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, because it has Pakistan actor Fawad Khan playing one of the significant roles.

The CM said, "At the meeting, it was producer Karan Johar who expressed his desire to make a contribution of Rs 5 crore towards the welfare of the families of the martyred soldiers. To which I categorically said there should be no such compulsion.

Yet, if you want to show your deshbhakti, there is the Army welfare relief fund where you can help." But reports say that the "Army will not accept donation of Rs 5 crore offered by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions ahead of 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' release". Several ex-Armymen and veterans had been vocal about how the army should not be made a part of the scheme of local party politics.