We will beat up Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt if they cast Pakistani actors: MNS

Mumbai: The ban on Pakistani artists working in India has heightened to a great extent. Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has threatened to beat up Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt if they try to work with any of the Pakistani artists.

In a recent interview, Ameya Khopkar, MNS President of film wing, said, “For MNS, our country and our soldiers are important, and not the Pakistan artistes. We will beat Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt if they try to cast Pakistan artistes in their films.”

In the wake of Uri terror attack, MNS had given a 48 hours ultimatum to all Pakistani actors to leave India, including Fawad Khan. Just days after the ultimatum, Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association (IMPPA) passed a resolution on banning Pakistani artists and technicians working in India till normalcy returns between both the neighbouring nations.

Celebrities like Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar and Salman Khan, who had opposed the ban on Pakistani artists, have been criticised by MNS. Karan Johar’s office was attacked by MNS following his statement on the ban.

MNS has also threatened not to let films like ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and ‘Raees’, which have Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan in them, release in Mumbai. The IMPPA delegation had met MNS film wing last week requesting them not to ban the films that MNS has declined.

After the surgical strikes by India across border, both India and Pakistan has decided not to air television shows of each other. Cinemas in Pakistan have already stopped screening Indian films for an indefinite period in order to show solidarity with their army.

Pakistani artists like Rahat Fateh li Khan and Mawra Hocane have already lost Indian porjects owing to the ongoing tension between both these countries.

Congress, however, has reportedly slammed MNS for the bans calling it a 'drama keeping the BMC elections in mind'.