After hounding Pak artists, MNS readies to stall ADHM, Raees

Politics and Bollywood make for strange bedfellows. After media reports of actor Salman Khan calling MNS chief Raj Thackeray to allow the release of Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees surfaced, the MNS on Wednesday denied any intervention from Salman. In fact, not satisfied with the exit of Pakistani artists from India, the MNS reiterated that they would not allow the release of ADHM and Raees. Both the big-budget movies have Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan in it respectively.

After the MNS threat and political hullabaloo, several Pakistani artists, including actor Fawad, Mahira and Shakeel have left the country. The MNS maintains that the party will protest till the neighbouring country stops exporting terrorism. MNS’ Chitrapat Karmachari Sena leader Ameya Khopkar said, “Good they left India after our warning. I was told that Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Shakeel have left India. Today not a single Pakistani artist is in the country. Our protest will continue till Pakistan adheres to terrorism.”

Mr Khopkar further added that leaving the country is not enough. “We will oppose to release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees. We are not against Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan. Our protest is against the Pakistani actors who have acted in these two movies. In Pakistan, our channels are banned. Also, our director Kabir Khan was insulted by Pakistan recently,” he said.

Putting an end to the entire brouhaha surrounding Salman calling ‘dear friend’ Raj Thackeray over the release of ADHM and Raees, he said, “It is just a rumour. We are firm on our political line and will not listen to anyone,” Mr Khopar said.

The MNS’ latest diktat spells trouble for Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan, who have produced ADHM and Raees respectively. Bollywood’s current heartthrob, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, is in a supporting role in ADHM, while Mahira is the female lead opposite SRK in Raees. Apart from these two actors, there are scores of Pakistani actors and artists — such Ali Zafar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, Salman Ahmad, Ali Azmat, Imran Abbas and Mawra Hocane — who have made it big in Bollywood.