The ongoing row about Pakistani actors being cast in Indian movies and resulted ban on a big Diwali release like Ae Dil Hein Mushkil took a murky turn and subsided. After the Uri attacks, Indian pseudo Nationalists once again gained a strong voice after opposing movies on the grounds of intolerance debate last year.This time they went after the films starring Pakistani actors and the actors left India even though they had work permission and were granted Visa by Central Government. The Indian producers did try to stand firm on their choice to cast these actors but were bullied like hell by these rationalists and organisations like Maharastra Navanirman Sena. Ae Dil Hein Mushkil had to face the brunt first with film getting banned in Maharastra area from public showing.
The producer director, Karan Johar had to bring in all his forces asking the government to help and brought all the big heads of Bollywood came in support to him. Finally Mahastra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sat with both the parties and after the producers agreed to their demands they relented to lift the ban on movies like Raees, Ae Dil Hein Mushkil and Dear Zindagi. Interestingly, Shah Rukh Khan is in all three films, in two of them he is in cameo appearances.The demands of the MNS were that, the films should carry a plate that they are aware of the sacrifices by Army and their families, should pay 5 crores to Army relief fund and issue apology for working with Pakistani actors.
Karan Johar accepted for these terms and the films already ready for release are exempted from ban provided they follow these steps. So in a country which fought for freedom in Non Violentic way, following the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideals are said to be given utmost importance by the elected government is now paying to prove their patriotism and avoid violence. Few Army officials have expressed their disgust at the recent developments saying Army cannot and should not have to survive on extorted money. All this happening in front of a state CM and with his mediation is really shocking! Great Going, isn’t it?
