Release of the film :
The film was planned to be released on Eid, 6 July 2016, but was postponed to avoid box office conflict with Yash-Raj film of Salman Khan starrer Sultan.The film was then replanned to be released on 26 January 2017, India's Republic Day, which conflicted with Hrithik Roshan starrer Kaabil, but then both films were moved to 25 January 2017. Raees released to 3500 screens worldwide.
In March 2016, a legal notice was sent by an alleged gangster, Abdul Latif's son, Mustak, asking how or why a film on his father's life is being made.
A few days after the 2016 Uri terror attack, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked for ban on films showing Pakistani actors on the basis that the actors were not openly condemning terrorism. Raees was on their list, because cast member Mahira Khan is Pakistani actress.
MNS make condition to lift up the ban, that producers shall never cast Pakistani actors in future and they have to give 5 crore rs. as penance to the Indian Army welfare fund, but Indian Army refused to accept it by saying sacrifices should not be politicised. Later, ban was lifted without the conditions on Raees as demanded by MNS.
Farhan Akhtar, co-producer of the film said Raees will never pay, and was threatened by MNS. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra and member of the BJP and the RSS, Devendra Fadnavis said at the meeting with MNS and the producers 50 million rs. as contribution to the Indian Army welfare fund was not quoted compulsory and was never a condition for lifting ban on films showing Pakistani actors demanded by MNS, and earlier at an event praised Shah Rukh Khan as an "icon" and a "proud Mumbaikar".
