News: Security Tight For Mumbai Screenings of 'My Name Is Khan'

My Name is Khan has opened amid tight security in at least one cinema in the Indian city of Mumbai.

More than 1,800 people have been arrested at protests against My Name is Khan, which will be shown at 63 venues.

Khan angered the hardline Hindu party, Shiv Sena, by saying he regretted that no Pakistani cricketers had been picked for next month's Indian Premier League.

Two small cinemas have already been attacked in Mumbai and posters burned.

The BBC's Prachi Pinglay in Mumbai who visited a popular multiplex in the city's Bandra area says there is heavy security and shows of all movies have been suspended there.

The authorities have announced that 21,000 police officers will be deployed to protect cinemagoers, frisking patrons before entering. Night-vision cameras may also be used to spot troublemakers inside.

Senior police official Himanshu Roy said more security would be provided if necessary.

Despite the promise of protection, a number of cinema chains stopped taking advance bookings for My Name is Khan this week.

One cinema-goer in Mumbai told the AFP news agency that she found the controversy over Khan "alarming and disturbing".

"I'm not going to be deterred by these kind of threats," said the woman, who asked not to be named.

Khan, part-owner of Indian Premier League cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders, spoke out last month after no players from Pakistan were selected for the IPL Twenty20 competition.

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