The government is expected to continue issuing visa to Pakistani artists, including actors willing to work in Hindi films or television, for the time being and is not likely to take any hasty decision on the issue even as the Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) on Friday refused to screen films with Pakistani actors in four states — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Goa. The move would impact the Diwali release of Karan Johar’s upcoming movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, featuring Pakistani actors Fawad Khan.
Sources said the government will not cancel the existing visas that have been granted to Pakistani artists.
The issue, top government sources said, was discussed at the highest level in the government following the attack on the Uri Army camp and subsequent surgical strikes by India at terror launch pads across the Line of Control. The general view within the government was “not to act in haste” over the contentious issue of banning Pakistani artists and instead see how things unfold over the next few months.
Following the Uri incident, the Centre had adopted a multi-pronged strategy to corner Pakistan in terms of military and diplomatic act-ion as well as reviewing the Indus Water Treaty. There was also talk of reviewing the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted to Pakistan in a bid to isolate and exert pressure on the neighbouring country to stop sponsoring terror activities against India.
“The government has been working on several front post the Uri incident to corner Pakistan. Artists and film actors are in any case soft target and on this issue we will not take any hasty decision. We will see how relations between the two countries, particularly on the security front, evolve over the next few months before taking a final call on this issue. But, there cannot be any knee-jerk reaction,’’ a senior official said.
While the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has passed a motion to ban artists from across the border from working in the industry till Indo-Pak relations are normalised, it, however, criticised COEAI’s decision.
“The COEAI has decided that keeping in mind the patriotic feelings and the national interest of our country all our members and exhibitors will refrain from screening movies which have involvement of any Pakistani artists, technicians, directors, music directors etc,” association president Nitin Datar told the media.
“Under our association we have several members including single screen theatres and few multiplexes. Our members are based in Maharashtra, Gujarat and parts of Goa and Karnataka,” he said, adding, “the decision stands until things(Indo-Pak relations) get normal.”
Censor Board chairman Pahlaj Nihalani said the decision is wrong as the film mostly features Indian actors.
While the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) has passed a motion to ban artists from across the border from working in the industry till Indo-Pak relations are normalised it however, criticised COEAI’s decision, saying the films which have already completed production should not be targeted. “We stick to our stand, We feel films that are completed shouldn’t be banned,” TP Aggarwal, IMPPA President, told a news agency.
MNS leader Amay Khopkar said,''I congratulate all the members of COEAI. I think multiplexes haven’t taken any stand yet but we are firm on our stand that we won’t allow any movie which features Pakistani artists to release in Maharashtra.’’
