Ae Dil Hai Mushkil row: After meeting Devendra Fadnavis & Raj Thackeray, Mukesh Bhatt decides not to work with Pakistani artistes in future

The film directed by Johar ran into trouble for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan with Raj Thackeray saying that they won't allow the release of any movie in India that features Pakistani artistes.

Mumbai, Oct 22: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday held a meeting with MNS chief Raj Thackeray and filmmaker Karan Joha and Producers’ Guild President, Mukesh Bhatt over the ban on upcoming movie ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’. Following the meeting, Bhatt said that Producers’ Guild have decided not to work with Pakistani artistes anymore. He also said that he promised the leaders of the same. Bhatt said that the movie is made in the best interest of the public. Also the movie will run a slate which honours the martyrs. “I assured Fadnavis that the Producer’s Guild has decided that we will not work with Pakistani artists in the future. Also Karan Johar has said he will run a slate before the movie starts which honours the martyrs, its a tribute.”

The film directed by Johar ran into trouble for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a cameo role, with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray saying that they won’t allow the release of any movie in India that features Pakistani artistes. Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is due for release on October 28, ahead of Diwali. (ALSO READ:  Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offers full SUPPORT to the film)

On Thursday, Mukesh Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Dharma Productions, led a film fraternity delegation and met Union home minister Rajnath Singh in Delhi to discuss the smooth release of the film, who assured support to the movie. Bhatt said that there is a sense of “fear” about the law and order situation especially in Mumbai. He added saying, “We requested him to give us assurance along with the chief minister of the state that law and order will be intact and not face any difficulty during the release of our movie ‘ADHM’ which is releasing on October 28 .” (ALSO READ- Karan Johar on Ae Dil Hai Mushkil ban: See you at the cinemas on October 28!)

Bhatt further said, “They have assured us whatever support we want he will provide to us. He said that he will talk to chief ministers of the states so that the law and order remains in place and violence does not take place near theaters. Full security will be given to all exhibitors. The way we celebrate Diwali, (We want) everyone get entertained and celebrate it with happiness.”

The relation between India and Pakistan is tense after the Uri attack that killed 19 soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the incident, Pakistan has been violating ceasefire since then and cross-border firing has also been on rise. Although India tried to diplomatically isolate Pakistan globally, the army conducted surgical strikes across the Line of Control (LoC) killing terrorists waiting to infiltrate to the country through the border. With relating between both the countries further worsening, various political parties declared their stand on banning Pakistani artistes in India and not allowing the release of movies featuring actors from the neighboring country.