New delhi:The government has no plans to revoke the visa granted to Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood notwithstanding the current tensions with that country. “There is no proposal to revoke the visa granted to Pakistani artistes working in India,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena recently had asked Pakistani artistes like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately, failing which the shooting of their movies will be stalled.
Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have deteriorated following the September 18 terror attacks in Uri in which 19 soldiers were killed. Indian Army also carried out surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK on the intervening night of September 27 and 28.
Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring Fawad Khan doesn’t seem to die.
Cinema Owners and Exhibitors’ Association of India (COEAI) on Friday announced that theatres under its ambit will not screen movies featuring Pakistani actors and technicians.
In a circular issued Friday, COEAI said, “Keeping in mind the patriotic feeling and national interest, we request all our member exhibitors from (withholding) screening (of) any movie that has involvement of Pakistani artistes, technicians, etc.” Pakistani actor Fawad Khan plays a key role in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
The ban is reportedly applicable to single-screen theatres that are part of Mumbai territory, which includes, besides Maharashtra, parts of Gujarat, Goa and Karnataka. While the scope of the ban remains uncertain as of now, as other industry bodies are yet to come to a decision, COEAI stated, “We are in the process of requesting other associations connected with the film industry to support these sentiments.”
PTI