Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees and Fawad Khan’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil gets a go-ahead, but IMPPA asks PM to cancel Pakistani artistes work permit

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees' release might not be stalled. IMPAA requests MNS and Shiv Sena to not disturb the release

The biggest controversy that Bollywood has seen in the longest time has split the nation in a debate – banning of Pakistani artistes from working in India justified or not. After the attack by Pakistani terrorists, on Indian Army base in Uri that cost us the lives of 18 soldiers, Indian political party MNS gave an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to leave India within 48 hours. Which prominently meant that Ali Zafar, Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan are no longer welcome by the political party in India. The actors have big movies lined up namely Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Dear zindagi and Raees. Seeing the political unrest IMPPA (Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association) implied an official but temporary ban on any artist from the neighbouring country from working here. The makers of the films starring the said actors were also met with threats of banning the release of their respective films. But seems like IMPPA is all ready to intervene in the situation for better good of Indian filmmakers.
A couple of political parties demanded scenes of Pakistani actors to be re-shot or else the release of the films will be stalled. Ashoke Pandit, Vice President of IMPPA has met MNS and requested the party to not disturb the release of the film. In a series of tweets today, he condemned the attack and supported the ban on Pakistani actors but also added that the films that have been made, are by Indians and money of Indian investors is at risk as “Pakis have made money and gone”. 


Mr Ashoke has also requested Uddhav Thackeray, president of Shiv Sena to arrange a meeting to discuss the same. He concluded his series of tweets with a tweet to show IMPAA’s solidarity with the nation. He wrote “#IMPPA stands by its decision of banning #PakistaniArtists tl #IndoPakrelations return back to normalcy & our soldiers stop getting martyrd. (sic)”
Ashoke further posted pictures of letters submitted to PM Narendra Modi requesting to cancel the work permits of Pakistani technicians, actors and singers. He also posted the request letters submitted to Shiv Sena and MNS appealing to save film industry from losses by not obstructing the release of films that were met with threats.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in lead roles. The film directed by Karan Johar has Fawad in an extended cameo. Dear Zindagi has been directed Gauri Shinde and stars Alia Bhatt as the female lead, and Ali Zafar in a small but key role. Mahira Khan stars opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Raees. The fate of these movies is yet to be sealed after the political unrest. We hope it is realised that money that is at stake is that of Indians, and there is no unrest caused upon the release of the films. 

#IMPPA in its letter to PM @narendramodi JI urges him to cancel all the work permits issued to #PakPerformers.@SushmaSwaraj @rajnathsingh pic.twitter.com/37rMTJ6Puq

— Ashoke Pandit (@ashokepandit) October 6, 2016