Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has once again opened a front against Pakistani actors and films after the announcement of the release of Pakistani film 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' in India. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena leader Amay Khopkar in a special conversation with Dainik Bhaskar clearly said that no Pakistani artist or film will find a place in India. He also targeted Bollywood and said that if Pakistani actors come here and promote, they will be beaten.
Raising the issue of the country's security and martyred soldiers, he did not limit his protest to Maharashtra alone, but expressed his intention to spread it across the country. Read some key excerpts from the conversation:
First of all, we want to know, what is the real reason behind this huge protest against Pakistani artists? “Our country is being attacked by Pakistan. Last week too there were attacks in which our jawans were martyred. Attacks also happen in many cities of our country, where our good police officers are martyred. What is the need for Pakistani art in such a situation? Are there no artists in our country? Aren't movies made here? Why do we need Pakistani artists? Will the police officers who lost their lives in the terrorist attack in Mumbai watch the shows of these Pakistani artists when the TV is on at home? Due to which our soldiers and police officers were martyred. We don't want artists from that country. We will not allow any Pakistani artist or film to be released here.'
Everything was going well in Bollywood for so many years, why is there a sudden need for Pakistani actors? My question is also, why is this necessary? We have good actors and good talent here. Then what is the need to invite actors from Pakistan? In Pakistan they don't even allow our films to release, on the contrary they ban them.
Will your protest be limited to Maharashtra or are you planning to spread it across the country? Our party is limited to Maharashtra, but I am also asking other states not to allow any Pakistani artist or film to be released in their cities and oppose it. We will definitely protest. Pakistani films will not release in Maharashtra and this should be considered as a threat.
What will be your next strategy if Pakistani films are released? Theater owners also know that the mirrors of their multiplexes are very expensive. It won't be released, and 'no' means 'no.'
It is said that art and culture should be kept separate from politics. Do you think this is possible? 'I believe that art and culture and politics are separate things. But when the same art belongs to those who attack our country, we do not want that art. For us country comes first, then art. We will not tolerate those who attack our country in the name of art. The day the attacks on our country from Pakistan stop, then we will talk. Not at all for now.'
What is your message to those in Bollywood who are advocating working with Pakistani actors? 'People of Bollywood should be ashamed. If we have so much talent in our country, then what is the need to bring in actors from outside, especially from Pakistan? No matter how hard they try, we will not allow any Pakistani artist to perform or show films here. Now there are rumors that Pakistani artists will come here and promote themselves, so I would like to tell them not to even think about it. Don't think about promotion, otherwise you will be beaten. We will break the hands and feet.'
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
