Outspoken: ‘Indian cinema will face losses if Pakistanis are banned’

Indian censor board chairman feels art and culture should not suffer at any cost

MUMBAI: Earlier this month, Pakistani actors such as Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan were asked to stop working on their Bollywood projects immediately. While this act is being supported by many film industry veterans across the border, a few have spoken in favour of Pakistani artists. One such example is that of Indian Central Board of Film Certification Chief Pahlaj Nihalani.

According to Pahlaj, Indian cinema could face big losses if Pakistani actors are prevented from working in India. He shared that directors such as Karan Johar signed Pakistani artists when the relations between the countries were stable and it would be unjust to stop the release of films now. “Why are we talking about the artists? Instead, we should talk about India and Pakistan. To give a visa to any Pakistani is the sole decision of the government, and we as producers and actors, are saying they are not terrorists and that art and culture should never come in between,” Pahlaj said.

“The way our country was developing relations with Pakistan, the same way Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan had accepted the Pakistani actors, and now, this film should be released and should not face difficulties, because through this, not only will these actors suffer losses, but also the nation and the film industry will suffer,” he added. While Mahira was shooting for Shah Rukh’s Raees, Fawad was filming for Karan’s directorial Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Pahlaj’s comment comes after Salman Khan and Mahesh Bhatt supported Pakistani artists and spoke against the irrational demands of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders to ban films casting Pakistani actors. “They are artistes not terrorists. It’s the government who gives them permits and visas,” the Bajrangi Bhaijaan star said in an earlier interview.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 4^th, 2016.

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