In a major relief for Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) yesterday allowed the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil but with a rider - all producers who employed Pakistani artists, must pay Rs50mn each into the Indian Army’s welfare fund. Distributors and cinema owners have also come forward in support of the film.
The MNS decision followed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ direct intervention yesterday - a day after federal Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited Mumbai and two days after he met representatives of Bollywood.
Fadnavis convened a meeting which was attended by MNS chief Raj Thackeray, Johar and Film and Television Producers Guild of India’s president Mukesh Bhatt, among others to resolve the crisis.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has been in news for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
Thackeray said henceforth, all Pakistani artists, including actors, singers and directors will be permanently banned from Bollywood.
“Why should Pakistani actors be given the red carpet welcome when our soldiers are being killed on the borders? Was the Uri attack the first one?,” Thackeray said.
The MNS also imposed certain conditions on the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, including that the producers make a handsome contribution to the army welfare fund, and slides paying tribute to the Indian soldiers are shown before the start of the film in theatres.
Bhatt and Johar agreed to the conditions.
The film also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma.
“We have always raised our voice against Pakistani actors, cricketers coming and working here… This is our victory,” Thackeray said, virtually pulling the rug from under his rival, cousin Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Interestingly, the Shiv Sena has been agitating against Pakistani artists, writers, and cricketers for several decades and is currently a coalition partner with the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra and in the central government.
Raj Thackeray demanded that each producer employing Pakistani artists must contribute Rs50mn to the army welfare funds as ‘atonement’ (prayashchit) for their actions.
The decision by MNS and Fadnavis was later criticised by various other political party leaders.
The opposition Congress termed the ‘settlement’ as “shocking and unconstitutional.”
“It is the prerogative of the central government to impose a ban on Pakistani artists, the CM’s duty is to only ensure law and order in the state… The CM could have made a request to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it’s a matter concerning foreign affairs. Fadnavis has interfered in Modi’s domain,” Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant said.
Maharashtra Samajwadi Party president Abu Asim Azmi termed it “a publicity stunt of MNS ending in a ‘settlement’ as was expected by all.”
“This country believes in law and order… In future, the state government must tackle such ‘threats’ by implementing the law and teach such elements a lesson,” Azmi urged.
Filmmaker and social activist Ashoke Pandit also took to Twitter to condemn MNS’ demand calling it “extortion.”
“Producers who have Pakistan actors in their films to donate Rs5 crore is unreasonable. Donation has to be from the heart. When forced, it’s extortion,” Pandit tweeted.
The controversy about whether to let Pakistani artists work in India started following the September 18 Uri attack in in Jammu and Kashmir in which 19 Indian soldiers were killed. The attack was followed by what India claimed were surgical attacks across the Line of Control.
Earlier, while MNS issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artists to quit India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution asking producers to avoid working with talent from Pakistan.
Then, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India announced single screen theatres in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat won’t screen Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. MNS has been open about condemning the idea of releasing of the movie.