After Karan Johar's upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil which features Pakistani actor Fawad Kahn ran intro trouble with the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) which firmly stated that it won’t allow release of any movie in India that featured Pakistani artistes, Thackeray has finally given a go ahead but not without listing out a huge set of demands that need to be met.
In a crucial meeting held with Karan, Producers Guild head Mukesh Bhatt, Raj Thackeray and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, it was been decided that not only will Bollywood film fraternity cut ties with Pakistani artists in future but every producer who is currently associated with Pakistani artists will also contribute a huge sum to the Army’s Welfare fund.
“Every producer who has cast Pakistani artistes will give Rs 5 crore to Army relief fund.” Thackeray confirmed. “Producers will have to give in writing that they will not take Pakistani actors in their films.”
Mukesh Bhatt however stated that the second condiction wasn't compulsory but was a voluntary move on their part. “I assured Mr Fadanavis the Chief minister, Mr Thackeray was also there and I have told them that the Guild has taken a decision that in the larger interests of the people, the sentiments of the soldiers and every Indian that we will not work with any Pakistani artiste in the future. I am going to call an extraordinary meeting and pass this resolution. We are also going to contribute to the army welfare fund. This is not a compulsion from the CM. Please don’t read something which is not implied. This is purely our voluntary gesture from our side.” Apart from this Karan Johar will run a special slate honouring the martyrs before the start of the movie even before his late father Yash Johar’s plate, as a tribute to our soldiers. K Jo had infact a few days ago posted a video in which he had stated that he would not engage with Pakistani actors in the future and professed his respect for the Indian army.
As expected, this move has been met with varied reactions from people. Actor Naseeruddin Shah in particular took to social media and expressed his displeasure on this whole episode. “I’m no fan of Karan Johar but I will definitely watch Ae Dil Hai Mushkil because I feel that a creative person who wants to get work to be done needs to be supported. The government has also assured its support for the film. So I think that Karan should not have apologised and there was no need for him to plead so helplessly,” he wrote.
