Projects that have already been completed don’t fall under the purview of the resolution.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association on Thursday passed a resolution to ban Pakistani artists and technicians from the Hindi film industry.
The decision came a day after India revealed that it launched surgical strikes across the LoC to eradicate terror pads. Produce Ashoke Pandit, a member of IMPPA, said, “IMPPA paid homage to the martyrs who were killed in Uri. It therefore felt its responsibility towards the nation and passed a resolution banning Pakistani Actors & technicians in India till normalcy returns. For IMPPA, nation comes first.” Eighteen Army personnel were killed in the Uri attack on September 18.
TP Aggarwal, the president of the IMPPA confirmed the ban in a statement. He said that the resolution was passed in the 87th annual general meeting. As per the new resolution no Pakistani will be hired by the producer members of the body forever.
However, there is a difference of opinion as to how long this ban will be imposed as the president used the term ‘forever’ while Ashoke Pandit said that it is till normalcy returns.
Aggarwal also replaced singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from his upcoming movie ‘Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana’. Recently the concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon respectively were also cancelled.
The Maharasthra Navnirman Sena (MNS) staged a protest outside filmmaker Karan Johar’s office demanding the ouster of Pak actor Fawad Khan from his upcoming romance-drama, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
Actor-singer Ali Zafar, who is gearing up for the release of Gauri Shinde’s romance-drama ‘Dear Zindagi’ and actress Mahira Khan, who is the leading lady of Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’ were also in the list of artists facing threats from different groups.
However, IMPPA has clarified that projects that have already been completed don’t fall under the purview of the resolution.
Across the border, theatre owners in Pakistan also decided to withdraw and put a stop to screening of Indian films with regard to current situation.