Karan Johar speaks up about MNS’ demand to ban Pakistani actors

Following the terror attack in Uri, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena demanded that the Pakistani artistes working in Indian entertainment industry be sent back to their country within 48 hours. They also claimed they would not allow Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and Shah Rukh Khan‘s ‘Raees’ to release in Maharashtra as they respectively cast Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan. After a lot of controversy, Johar has finally spoken up on the issue.

“I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pakistani artistes). If this was truly a solution, then one would take it. But this is not a solution. I don’t believe it is. There are larger forces that have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art,” Karan said.

Indeed! Artistes are supposed to be beyond the religious and geographical barriers. But what if ‘ADHM’ actually suffers due to the outrage carried out by MNS?

“I don’t know… I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let’s look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer,” Johar answers.

We can only pray that things be back to normal soon…

Also Read: Singer Abhijeet’s Twitter rant for filmmakers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt is distressful

Ranjini Maitra

Journalist. Writer. Reader. Enthu cutlet. Mood-swing machine. Day dreamer. Sandwiched between ‘live life fully’ and ‘lose some weight’. Mantra of life: Love and love more.