MNS allows release of Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil...'

Mumbai, Oct 22: In a major breather for filmmaker Karan Johar, the Maharashtra vnirman Se (MNS) on Saturday allowed the release of his “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” — but said all producers who employed Pakistani artists must pay Rs 5 crore each into the Indian Army’s welfare fund as an atonement. The MNS decision followed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadvis’ direct intervention in the matter — a day after Union Home Minister Rajth Singh visited Mumbai and two days after he met representatives of Bollywood.

However, MNS President Raj Thackeray said henceforth, all Pakistani artistes — actors, singers, among others — shall 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,” an aggressive Thackeray demanded. “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” has been in news for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

The MNS has been agitating for the past fortnight against the film on the ground that it has Fawad in it, and had vowed not to permit its scheduled release on October 28.

“We have always raised our voice against Pakistani actors, cricketers coming and working here… This is our victory,” Thackeray asserted, virtually pulling the rug from under his rival, cousin Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Se. Asking all producers to ensure they (Pakistani artistes) “don’t get entry to Bollywood”, Thackeray said the producers must submit a written undertaking to MNS that they would not employ any Pakistani actors, singers, technicians, among others. (IANS)

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