Ban on Pakistani artistes no solution to terrorism: Karan Johar
New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS) Filmmaker Karan Johar, whose upcoming Bollywood entertainer “Ae Dil Hai Mushki” stars one of Pakistan’s most popular actors, Fawad Khan, says the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s demand to ban Pakistani artistes from working in India is not a solution to terrorism.
Karan’s comment comes after the MNS on Friday threatened all Pakistani artistes to leave India, failing which it said it would stall the shooting of their films. The MNS st ancecame after 18 Indian soldiers were killed in a terror attack at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Sunday, Karan said on a news channel: “I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pakistani artistes). If this was truly a solution, then one would take it.”
“But this is not a solution. I don’t believe it is. There are larger forces that have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art.”
The 44-year-old who has been under verbal attack from various quarters for casting Pakistani talent in his film, says that he feels “vulnerable” while speaking about the issue publicly.
“I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was always to put out a creative product out of love and nothing else,” he said.
When asked how will he deal with the threats, Karan said: “I don’t know… I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let’s look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer.”
The director shared that sometimes creative people feel so frustrated that they just want to “fold hands and say ‘Leave us alone’.”
“I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in the scheme of things. I am just a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel that I am a vulnerable soft target. I have faced it, felt the repercussions of it in the past, and I have constantly combated that.”
“Sometimes, you just want to fold your hands and say, ‘We are a creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions in the world, in our country who are happy with the work we do, allow us that…’ I think we should just not be those soft targets anymore. We don’t matter in the scheme of things but we can make things happier and better,” he said.
Apart from Karan, even superstar Shah Rukh Khan and the Bhatt camp were under attack by some people, for bringing in Pakistani talent in India. SRK is working with Mahira Khan in “Raees”, while the Bhatts have worked with multiple talents from the other side of the border in their various productions.
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has been vociferous in his anger against them. He has called for “ActAgainstPak” and called “Johars, Bhatts, Khans” traitors.
“Shame Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt for breeding, feeding them #UriAttack,” he said on Twitter.
As I had clearly predicted the usual suspects from Bollywood and their enablers in media have started the mischief to deceive and misguide indian public. Bakra Dutta, Karan Johar, Aaamir, shaarukh and mahesha bhatta – this is the same brigade we had seen before as well. How can rest of the world take us seriously when we go on with business as usual ? Embarrassing.
Someone needs to remind this arrogant, narcissistic Bollywood crowd that there is so much more to life than pure business profits and self-promotion. These geniuses are very quick to mock sanaathana traditions, rituals, groups while apologizing for terrorists in their movies. One genius wants to leave India while the other one tells us how terrorists have no religion. However, I haven’t seen a single honest man willing to say a single word critical of ‘peaceful’ people. How about a simple cartoon? Oh yea – we all know how peaceful the response would be. LOL Talking about cartoons, here is the… Read more »
Yes – go cry and blame RSS. – Truth Seeker Say, T.(ruth) Shekara/anna Aren’t you the same Yumreeki TVS/Luna YUMREEKI RampaNNA who used to enthrall us with his jokes? If so, welcome to EYT after your ‘christening’ ceremony! Welcome, saaru and well, the name might have changed, but then, I hope that won’t dilute the quality of your usual jokes in any way. Ahem! Anyway, radicals exist everywhere. Look what happened to Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare & Dr. MM Kalburgi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LB_xwaPMEoc Oh well, since you read the Malayalam novel, Aadujeevitham, front to back and then again from back to… Read more »
‘Radicals exist everywhere…” writes joker Praveena pinto.
I understand Beef Club geniuses are not exactly known for intellectual curiosity or logic!! Of course, radicals exist in all societies. But there is a degree of magnitude that makes the difference. One isolated incident is not as same as everyday pattern that we see from one community. Again, how do you explain this simple logic to Beef Club genius like Pinto who is the direct result of a self-hating culture taught by foreign masters? LOL
Again, how do you explain this simple logic to Beepu clubbu geniuses like Pinto.. – Tooth Shakera
Say, Rampa, what beats the bejesus & “shimBlll Laaajick” outta Joker Pinto is – WHY on earth and your chaddis do you change your Burka so many times? OOps…. I mean… your falthu pseudonym? Whom are you running away from? IRS/ATF/Local cops/Interpol/Mex goons/Triads?
Or from your Indian kumpadhr’s who are never tired of sending you Whatsapp msgs asking you help them outta a ‘spot of bother’?
Wa onji joker maraya imbe! 🙂
One isolated incident is not the same as everyday pattern that we see from one community…… rant.. rave.. blah blah ..foreign masters – Tooth Shakera RampaNNA Know what? Whet me thinks is – “Isolated Incident” is one when YOU realize what ‘truth’ is ONLY when it falls down smack on your boilerplate encased head. Lol! THREE rationalists murdered by the Saffron fringe and there, this chap starts his ‘bhashanas’ and winds up on a high-note of Beepu. And he calls himself a ‘Truth Seeker’ when all he spews is blatant lies and half-baked ‘truths’! Now, listen Tooth Shakera, since you… Read more »
Joker Pinto has posted two separate responses to my earlier post probably in an attempt to counter my points. As I astutely pointed out in my post, his cultural background and lack of education make it impossible for him to understand the simple truth that I advocate here on regular basis. Posting multiple gibberish responses to my comments hardly help him see the light. Then again, I don’t think he will ever understand this paradox. Living on the walls of a library doesn’t turn a gecko into a scholar!! smiles…
– Truth Seeker (originaltruthseeker@yahoo.com)
Living on the walls of a Library does not turn a gecko into a scholar!! Smiles.. – Truth Shakera Rampa
And, a monkey in a suit is STILL a monkey in a suit – regardless of whether it is in Cupertino or KuppedaPadava. Giggles……