Sharp divide continues within Bollywood on boycotting Pak actors

Mumbai: Karan Johar and the film producers guild’s assurance not to work with Pakistani actors in future may have ensured a peaceful release for ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ on Diwali but the issue of boycotting actors from across the border continues to witness a sharp divide within the film industry.

In fact the Film and Television producers Guild’s announcing that it would not work with Pakistani actors in future and would contribute Rs 5 crore towards the Army Welfare Fund has evoked criticism from several quarters.

Reacting on the issue, filmmaker Ashok Pandit said, "Asking producers who have Pakistani actors in their films to donate Rs 5 crore is unreasonable.Donation has to be from the heart.
When forced, it's extortion.’’ Pandit had earlier criticized the decision of the exhibitors of not screening films featuring Pakistani actors.

"They (Pakistan) have continuously attacked us.It's the inferiority complex in which some of our producers have and are suffering now,’’he said.Actor Tara Deshpande also slammed the MNS demand and said, "To openly extort money in the name of one of the world's largest Armies and to call it 'atonement' belies all my imaginative power".

Actor and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt also sharply reacted and tweeted "It is neither nationalism nor blackmail.It is schoolyard bullying at its best and worst’’.Another actor to strike a discordant note on the issue of banning Pakistani actors from working in Indian films is Abhay Deol.

Speaking during the Jio MAMI Film Festival 2016, Abhay Deol, who recently made a comeback with the film ‘Happy Bhag Jayegi’, was asked about his views on the ongoing debate, to which he said, “I will support it if you think banning anything to do with Pakistan is going to help our jawans.

If you want to ban anything to do with Pakistan, then go the distance. Do not just ban filmmakers, ban imports, exports etc. When you do half a job, no one is going to take you seriously. I don't take the government seriously.

Bollywood actress Renuka Shahane was another celebrity to question the MNS threat to ban Pakistani actors and its tirade against Bollywood producer-director Karan Johar.

Questioning MNS idea of patriotism, Renuka Shahane, in a Facebook post, pointed out that while MNS protested against the casting of a Pakistani actor in "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" in solidarity with the martyred jawans of the horrendous Uri attack, it did not launch any protests in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the attack on the Pathankot air base.
(UNI)