KARACHI:
Bollywood has been home to several Pakistani artistes, out of which many have managed to develop a massive fan base in India. However, the Cine and Television Artistes Association (Cintaa) in India has decided to take strict action against actors who have not completed the required visa formalities and ones who have not enrolled under this union.
Foreign artistes who are planning to work in Bollywood have to now register under the Cintaa before starting their work in this film industry, reported Mid Day. The Indian newspaper further claimed that Pakistani singer turned actor Ali Zafar was summoned by Cintaa for allegedly working in India without an employment visa.
Cintaa has even threatened to block the release of Yash Raj Film’s upcoming release, Kill Dil, co-starring Ali Zafar, Govinda, Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra. President Gajendra Chauhan of Cintaa has asked Zafar to prove that he has the required work permit to continue with the projects in Bollywood. Chauhan also mentioned that when Zafar had initially come to India for work, he had the required visa which was later extended till 2012. However, post 2013, Gajendra claimed that the actor has been visiting the country on a visitor’s visa which shall not be permitted.
“Indeed, I was contacted by Cintaa via e-mail to clear confusion regarding some documents, which was promptly done by my office to their satisfaction,” Zafar told The Express Tribune, when inquired about Cintaa’s concerns. However, the singer refused to comment on whether the new restrictions by Cintaa are going to have an impact on cross border collaborations of Pakistani artistes.
“We have written to the External Affairs ministry asking for guidelines to be followed by Pakistani artistes who come to seek work here. Pakistan has not been kind to Indian artistes and their artistes come and take away our people’s work here; this is not acceptable to us at all,” Chauhan told Mid Day. He further added that Veena Malik had to enroll with Cintaa as Pakistan did not issue E-visas to its artistes who come to work in the Indian film industry.
According to the newspaper, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai wing has decided to oppose the release of Kill Dill. The party will also stage protests against Pakistani actors currently working in Bollywood films. They feel that Pakistani artistes should not be allowed to work in Bollywood as India has great talent and there is no need to look across the border.
On the other hand veteran Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh feels that politics and cinema should be separate from each other. “Personally, none of my work has been affected so far and only yesterday, I received a call from the wardrobe department of my upcoming film for which I will be flying out in the next few days. They (Indians) have no problem as long as you are working there and paying taxes,” said the actor who has starred in notable Indian films, such as Om Shanti Om and Namastey London.
The Na Maloom Afraad actor, further added, “I admit that certain extremist groups often create unrest against Pakistani artistes who are working there, but we have always been welcomed by the Indian artiste community. We are artistes and we should follow Malala Yousafzai’s example and talk about peace and not let the tension at the Line of Control affect the realm of entertainment.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 14th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (20)
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Indians are extremists, especially majority of the ones you will find on internet. Guys, ban our artists once and for all and don't talk about peace. Double standards..
Why have Indians become so insensitive? while our few remaining Hindu brethren in Pakistan are subjected to dehumanizing conditions under blasphemy laws, beheading by the Pak Taliban, destruction and occupation of the temples, abduction of Hindu girls and forcible conversion, we continue to make our facilities and film industry available to them? Look at the kind of fanatics Pakistanis have even in the cricket world like Afridi and Ahmed Shezad. I have noted even the comedians invited on Indian TV shows are hung up on religious sentiments.Bollywood is already the hub of the Islamic mafia based in Karachi and Dubai. Bar all Pakistani artists and let Indians benefit from the Indian film industry. Pakistan had one in Lahore but religious fanaticism destroyed it already.
@gogi lahore Why should anyone pay for tourist? Again fails to answer why go on tourist visa, visiting visa then and not work visa? If one is hired? And correction indians go there for employment,education etc just like america goes Australia or wise a versa for better economic opportunites than ones own country not for asylum. That's your country forte we don't have mass explosions daily here to have mass refugee in other country. Secondly it's not unusual for people of South Asia to enter illegally and legally into india Google your own country records it's more than thousand per year for refuge/permanant citizenship status. 2. Adnan Sami is living here since decades. India is famous for medical tourism. It also has trillion dollar economy and third country with purchasing power. Here Ipl,super football league etcworth more than 500 crores happens. Same is is the reason why all neighbouring states sportsmen tell they want to come india because they want a share in it. Can you deny your own sportsmen words? Yes we do have our problems, but we still better off in economy. And btw our per capita gdp is 1500 and pak 1299 .
It is the legal obligation of the employer to ensure the issues of work permit, health insurance and income tax of the employee.
This is the modus operandi of all devolved counties of the world where millions and millions of people go to work.
It is very unusual that people go to work in a very underdeveloped country like India, whose impoverished citizens stand in long queues of European countries as asylum seekers.
@Sneha: The Pakistani actors do not come here seeking jobs, it is our bollywood people who contact them and offer them roles in movies. So it is the responsibility of the producer(s) or media houses to offer them proper visas with every documentations completed.
A Punjabi can work for any one, any where and can do any thing, Just pay him.
You r wrong. No body can work long time with visit visa anywhere in the world..within a certain time frame u have to arrange work permit visa...My Last years of experience. If anybody is doing work what ever you are talking is 100% illegal and punishable any where in the word@Anon:
@Faisal, agreed.
@Sneha: Yes, India does absolutely NOTHING against Pakistan. Doesn't bad mouth Pakistan, doesn't fire at our borders. Sure.
Pakistanis working in India should definitely follow the rules and abide by the laws and should be held responsible if they fail to do so, but why does everything become a personal attack towards Pakistan and by here I am directing at what Mr. Chauhan said. They aren't stealing someone else's work; they are given work based on whatever skills are required by the Indian producers and directors.
@SH: It is the prerogative of us Indians whom we permit and whom we restrict in working in OUR movies.
Where were the authorities in the first place, why it took them so long to realize this fact ?
Partition was not done to give employment to Pakistani in future, allow illegal immigration from Bangladesh. India is also not a developed country. It is also against Liaquat Nehru Pact. Pakistan has far more resources per capita than India as Indian Muslims never moved to Pakistan. Pakistan and Bangladesh cannot be treated with same rules like other countries.
@SH: Other countries don't fire at our borders,do a Mumbai, badmouth us, yet seek employment here under pretext of tourist visa. So they are most welcome here. Be ipl,cricket, refugee/permanent citizenship, medical treatment or jobs you people gain from here, the least you can do is follow law of land. And before you counter argue on it Google the numbers and see the facts in each field. 2. Rahat had done the same thing illegally carrying US dollars exceeding many times the limit from india without tax. Do not violate rules it might be ok in your country, we do not even spare our bollywood stars who land in jail for breaking laws. So do not expect leniency on people who violate it.
I give India full right to force foreigners abide by the laws it has.Pakistanis have no special status to ignore the laws and expect India closes eye.If that be the case I would call it pure blackmail on the part of Pakistanis.
What is wrong with working on a visit visa.....we always do that everywhere.
There is nothing wrong. One should follow immigration rules & should have appropriate visa/work permit. And most importantly pay tax if you are earning income out of services/business in India.
"Pakistan has not been kind to Indian artistes and their artistes come and take away our people’s work here; this is not acceptable to us at all." So much of peace talk from the Indian side. They should also stop other foreigners, who are not Pakistanis, from taking away their people's work; stop making them dance in music videos or act in their movies.
Expecting Pakistani artistes to follow laws related to work visa and any other registration mandated by law is reasonable. It is unreasonable to protest against artistes who work after complying with all laws.
Dear country men and women. In other countries please follow rules and pay taxes for change.