Vimal Madam, owner of the Jamnagar cinema, said: "People want to watch the movie. I'm here to do business, not politics."

He said screenings were sold out for three days.

Court ruling

The Cinema Hall Owners' Federation of Surat, another Gujarat town, said it would decide whether to screen Fanaa after meeting local police and politicians.

India's Supreme Court on Monday refused to order protection for cinemas showing the film, but said cinema owners could approach local police for security.

Film-maker Mahesh Bhatt, who was not involved with Fanaa, had filed a petition seeking police protection for cinemas, arguing that the right to freedom of speech was being violated.

Following the court ruling, cinema owners reiterated that they had no intention of showing the Bollywood hit, the Press Trust of India reported.

The Bharatiya Janata and Congress political parties have opposed Fanaa's release in Gujarat, after Khan called on the government to adequately compensate people displaced by the Narmada dam's construction in the state.

The Save Narmada Movement says the state government has failed to provide adequate rehabilitation for the 35,000 people whose villages will be submerged when the dam is constructed.

Supporters of the project claim that it will supply drinking water to 40m people, irrigate land and generate electricity.

BBC NEWS