Singer-turned-Union minister Babul Supriyo has said that Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice must be removed from the song Istehaar from the upcoming film Welcome To New York.
The film, starring Karan Johar, Diljit Dosanjh, Sonakshi Sinha, Boman Irani, Rana Daggubati, among others, features Salman Khan in a special song which is sung by Rahat Fateh. Salman, who is the singer’s fan was rumoured to have replaced Arijit Singh’s voice with Rahat’s voice in Jag Ghoomeya from Sultan. Salman, however, had refuted rumours that it was the producers’ decision.
Supriyo has said he is not able to comprehend the need or desire to cross the border for entertainment content at a time when tensions on the India-Pakistan border have escalated.
“If that’s true, I would request the makers of the film to remove Rahat’s voice and get someone else to dub it! I am also not sure why Atif Aslam got to sing Dil Diya Gallan when for sure our very own Arijit could have done a much better job. The FM stations played the song galore while news channels announced the name of our soldiers martyred by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists,” he said.
Supriyo said India has no problems with either Atif or Rahat. “Atif as an artist sounded great in Dil Diya Gallan and Rahat is a great singer too. But it’s important to clarify that our problem is not with the artists Atif or Rahat, but with their Pakistani nationality. It’s not a political stand but probably the families who have lost their sons, brothers, fathers would feel a lot better should the entire country show solidarity in any manner possible.”
Bollywood, Supriyo insisted, has a national responsibility. “Bollywood is an integral part of that Indianism. It represents India worldwide, hence banning Pakistani artists in Indian films would have also taken the protest against organised terrorism by the rogue nation, worldwide. And, I very clearly recall that such a promise was made when Ae Dil Hai Mushkil had met protests due to Fawad Khan. And why is Pakistan’s entertainment industry silent on this cross-border terrorism? It is pertinent to note that one cannot recall a single Pakistani artist made famous by Bollywood, condemn terror acts by Pakistan. Enough is enough now, ban them for their only crime, that is being a Pakistani. Let we Indians wear our hearts on our sleeves and let our hearts beat in salutation of the sacrifice of our brave hearts,” Supriyo concluded.