The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) film wing today threatened filmmakers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt of ‘a befitting response’ if they work with or release films featuring Pakistani artists.
“We had appealed to film industry not to work with Pakistani artists in the wake of the Uri attacks. However, Bhatt and Johar have not given a positive response to our appeal,” head of MNS Chitrapat Sena, Amey Khopkar said.
“If they work with any Pakistani artist, they should be prepared for a befitting response from us,” Khopkar told Indian media.
The film workers association of the Raj Thackeray-led party had recently set a 48-hour deadline for all Pakistani artists working in India to leave the country.
“We gave a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani actors and artists to leave India or MNS will push them out,” Khopkar had said.
He had even threatened to beat up Pakistani artists and those who cast them in their productions. The MNS warning came in the wake of the heightened tension between the two nations, following the terrorist attack on an Amry camp in Uri in Kashmir in which 18 Army personnel were killed.
This is not the first time Pakistan-based artists have been threatened by Mumbai’s political parties. Shiv Sena had told ghazal singer Ghulam Ali to cancel his performance in Mumbai. It had also opposed hosting a cricket match in the city between India and Pakistan during the T20 World Cup. The Shiv Sena had also said it will obstruct promotions of Pakistani actors Fawad Khan’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and Mahira Khan’s Raees.
