ADHM row: Karan Johar breaks his silence, says won't cast Pak actors now

Mumbai: After days of silence, writer-director Karan Johar finally broke his silence on all the brouhaha over his movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that has Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in it.

In an emotional video statement released on Tuesday, Mr Johar said that he would “not engage talent from neighbouring country given the circumstance” but also made a public appeal for his film.

Amid growing voices from a section of politicians and film bodies to stall the release of ADHM or erase sections that has Fawad in it, Mr Johar, said: “I beseech you to know one thing...that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and I don’t think it's fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians”.

After facing backlash on social media with abusing him and calling him “anti-national”, “coward” and “Fawad Khan’s wife”, Mr Johar said that he stayed silent because he felt a “deep sense of hurt and pain” to be questioned about his patriotism.

“Today I would like to clarify that the reason why I remained silent is because of the deep sense of hurt and pain that I felt. There are few people who actually believe that I am being anti-national. I need to say this and I say this with strength that for me my country comes first,” the popular filmmaker said.