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We are a creative industry, please leave us alone - Karan Johar on MNS' threats to ban Pakistani artists
The controversy that has been the talk of the town recently is, after the unfortunate Uri Attacks that led to the death of many brave soldiers, MNS has threatened Pakistani artists like Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan to leave India immediately. This, in turn, would stall the shooting of their upcoming movies - Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees.
Finally, the director spoke candidly on the issue in an interview with Barkha Dutt for NDTV When asked about the cultural boycott, Karan said, "I understand the anger and the anguish, that surrounds us. I empathise and my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can ever explain or justify this terrible feeling of terror. It is saddening. It is heartbreaking."
He added, "Terrorism is not an answer to anything. Then you are faced, in a situation such as this (ban on Pakistani artists). If this was truly a solution, then one would take it. But this is not a solution."
"I believe there are larger forces that have to come together and sort the situation out and this cannot be banning talent or art. But I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this and I completely feel the pain and anger, as an Indian citizen."
He said, "Today if my film is going to be targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was always to put out a creative product of love and nothing else."
On how he would deal with the threats, "I don't know. I beseech everyone to look at it very holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let's look at it in a larger perspective and find that answer. I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in that scheme of things. I am a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel, I am a vulnerable soft target. I have felt it, I have faced the repercussions of it in the past and I have constantly combated that on various films."
He finally spoke about how creative people get frustrated and said, "Sometimes, we want to, with folded hands say, 'We are a creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions of people in this world and this country, we make happy with the work we do, allow us that. I feel we should not be those soft targets anymore. We don't matter in the scheme of things but we can make things better and happier."
Check the video below:
