Film producers resolve to ban Pakistani artistes, technicians

All along it was only a few political outfits who were demanding a ban on Pakistani artistes working in Indian films, but now it’s official. The Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has adopted a resolution not to hire Pakistani artistes and technicians in Indian films.

Confirming the development, IMPPA president TP Aggarwal told Cinestaan.com, “Today, at our AGM, it was unanimously decided by all members [producers] to no longer hire the services of Pakistani artistes and technicians. Most producers themselves were in favour of such a resolution. I won’t call it a ban, but it’s been agreed by all to stop having Pakistani artistes here.”

Filmmaker-producer Karan Johar has been facing flak from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a local political party, for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his upcoming film, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The MNS has threatened to stall the film’s release if Johar does not delete the scenes of the actor from his film.

Asked whether the resolution will have any impact on Johar’s film, Aggarwal replied, “The resolution has been passed with immediate effect. However, for films which have already been shot, we have left it to the individual producer to decide whether he/she wants to delete those scenes."

Agarwal refused to say if the ban was an indefinate one or would be reviewed once India-Pakistan relations improve.

It remains to be what action Johar takes now. It would be tough for him to delete Fawad Khan’s scenes as the film's release date is only a month away.

The ban also means Salman Khan cannot cast Fawad Khan for his next production, and Johar will have to look for a new actor for his next project, Raat Baaki, in which Fawad was to share screen space with Katrina Kaif.