While Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has incurred wrath of a number of politicians, filmmakers and activists for brokering a deal between the xenophobic political party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and makers of the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, filmmaker and activist Farhan Akhtar too has slammed the CM for facilitating the deal and setting a “terrible precedent”.
Image: BFI
According to an Indian Express report, Akhtar has criticised MNS and questioned the government’s role as the mediator, and said, “The only word, I think, that comes to mind is unfortunate, because it has set a terrible precedent.”
Following MNS’ threat of vandalising theatres screening Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, which has a Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in it, CM Fadnavis had called for a meeting of the party president Raj Thackeray and the producers, in which it was agreed that the filmmakers will not cast Pakistani artistes in future and will pay Rs 5 crore as ‘prayashchit’ (penance) to the Army welfare fund.
Referring to the series of incidents since MNS’ threats, Akhtar told Express, “It’s not even the government telling you what you should be doing and not doing. So who are you listening to? You are listening to the people who are threatening you with violence. Now, when you have the threat of violence, it’s not only about you. You have kids at home, you have a family.”
Speaking to The Indian Express during the promotion of his next film, Akhtar questioned the selective targeting of the film industry. “By all means pass a law. If you pass a law, you are representing the voice of the people. We’ve elected you to do it, so by all means pass a law. But don’t hold that standard only for the film industry. Why only the film industry? Because we are easy targets. Why don’t you stop business between India and Pakistan, this two billion dollars of business that happens every single year. Stop it, go the whole hog. This is like window dressing,” he said.
Supporting Johar’s statement in which he had explained how the circumstances were different when he had signed Khan, Akhtar said, ““People were encouraging exchange, our Prime Minister travelled there. It was an air, an environment of optimism, an environment of wanting bridges to be made. That’s the environment you started functioning in. Now, if that’s changed, you cannot hold this person by his throat and say that what you have done is wrong, and force you to say things and force you to pay money.”
To read the full report, click here,