"We discussed the unfortunate events related to the film's release. I shared the film industry's emotions. We are Indians first and our business comes later," said Film and TV Producers Guild of India President Mukesh Bhatt.
Bollywood seems to have bought peace with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray. Decks were cleared for the release of Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, after a deal was brokered between Thackeray, the Producers' Guild and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday.
Thackeray declared that the Guild had agreed that Pakistani actors won't be cast in Indian films any more. It was also agreed that producers who have already cast Pakistani actors will pay Rs 5 crore to the Army Welfare Fund and a special mention in the beginning of the film paying homage to the martyrs killed in the Uri attack. He was quick to add that the public themselves won't go to watch movie with Pakistani actors.
MNS had threatened to disrupt the screening of the film as it features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Film and TV Producers Guild of India President Mukesh Bhatt told reporters that the meeting was "positive and constructive and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will release as per schedule".
"We discussed the unfortunate events related to the film's release. I shared the film industry's emotions. We are Indians first and our business comes later," he said.
The Guild will call a meeting to pass a resolution on not working with Pakistani artistes. A copy of the same would be sent to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry as well as the Chief Minister, he said.
The makers of the film, slated to release on October 28, with Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles, will also contribute a portion of its revenue to the Army Welfare Fund as demanded by MNS.
Soon after the 'deal' was made public, there was outrage in the social over the 'extortion'. Questions were also raised about the Chief Minister's role in 'buying peace', pointing that as head of state, it was his duty to ensure that threats were dealt with a firm hand. In a similar case, the Ashok Chavan-led Congress government had dealt with the Shiv Sena in a stern manner when it had resisted the release of Johar's My Name Is Khan in 2010.
Political observers pointed out that by 'accommodating' the MNS, Fadnavis is sending a subtle message to the Sena, the BJP's alliance partner in the state, both of which are at loggerheads. Speculations are rife that they may not join hands for the upcoming Mumbai civic elections. The Sena is also trying to get back at the BJP by strengthening the hands of Subhash Velingkar, a rebel RSS leader from Goa, who has vowed to hand defeat to the BJP in Goa.
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