Babul Supriyo Calls For Temporary Ban On Pakistani Artistes
Union minister Babul Supriyo today (22 Feb) called for a temporary ban on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood, saying the initiative should come from within the industry.
Union
minister
Babul
Supriyo
today
(22
Feb)
called
for
a
temporary
ban
on
Pakistani
artistes
in
Bollywood,
saying
the
initiative
should
come
from
within
the
industry.
The
minister
made
his
comments
at
a
press
conference,
where
he
was
joined
by
producer
Vashu
Bhagnani,
whose
film
Welcome
to
New
York
features
a
song
by
Pakistani
singer
Rahat
Fateh
Ali
Khan.
Bhagnani
said
he
will
not
be
able
to
replace
the
concerned
song,
titled
"Ishtehar",
in
the
movie
but
vowed
not
to
work
with
the
artistes
from
across
the
border
in
future.
"We
made
this
song
around
8-9
months
ago.
Now
the
film
is
releasing
the
day
after
tomorrow.
We
want
to
remove
this
song
because
for
us
the
country
and
our
soldiers
come
first.
But
still
we
cannot
do
anything
as
the
film
is
releasing
this
Friday," Bhagnani
said.
Supriyo
said
at
a
time
when
soldiers
are
dying
at
the
border,
there
should
be
an
initiative
from
within
the
Bollywood
that
no
Pakistani
will
be
allowed
to
work
in
India
as
long
as
their
nation
indulged
in
terror
activities.
"As
an
artiste
I
do
feel
that
there
are
no
boundaries
to
art.
But
having
said
that
I
feel
when
our
soldiers
are
dying
at
the
border,
I
think
the
rhetoric
that
tensions
between
India
and
Pakistan
can
be
solved
through
cricket
and
music
cannot
be
applicable
for
sometime.
In
Cricket,
we
are
not
allowing
Pakistan
cricketers
to
play
in
the
IPL.
And
I
think
the
Bollywood,
which
is
a
strong
medium
in
itself,
should
take
a
stand
as
well
on
this
issue," Supriyo,
who
himself
is
a
playback
singer,
said.
"During
the
time
of
Ae
Dil
Hai
Mushkil,
I
took
a
stand
in
support
of
the
makers
and
had
to
face
a
lot
wrath
for
that.
I
had
said
that
the
film
has
been
made
and
should
not
be
obstructed
because
our
Indian
producers
will
face
the
losses.
I
stand
by
my
fraternity.
But
right
now,
it
is
time
that
we
show
restraint
when
it
comes
to
using
Pakistani
artistes
in
Bollywood," he
added.
The
BJP
minister
said
the
views
were
personal
and
should
not
be
taken
as
the
stand
of
the
government.
Rahat
Fateh
Ali
Khan
responded
to
the
controversy
around
the
song
and
tweeted,
"In
midst
of
so
much
being
said
all
I
can
say
is
music
has
no
boundaries
and
thank
everyone
for
showing
so
much
love
for
the
songs
which
I
am
a
part
of."
PTI