In
this
industry
there
are
no
friends
or
enemies.
That"s
politics
that
works
here.
India
and
Pakistan
share
a
chequered
history,
but
artists
from
the
two
nations
have
always
kept
the
politics
aside
and
tired
bridging
divides.
India,
being
the
bigger
and
powerful
neighbour,
has
provided
employment
opportunities
to
artists
from
across
the
border.
We
expect
these
artists
to
spread
the
goodwill
when
they
return
to
their
nation.
However,
all
the
bonhomie
went
for
a
toss
in
the
aftermath
of
26/11
Mumbai
carnage.
Fearing
their
security,
Pakistani
artists
performing
in
India
were
asked
to
leave
the
country.
One
of
them
was
allegedly
told
in
a
rough
tone.
That
individual
was
none
other
than
Shakeel
Siddqui.
Upon
landing
in
Pakistan,
Shakeel
allegedly
told
a
local
TV
channel
that
he
was
beaten
up
by
Indian
fundamentalists.
Surprisingly,
Siddiqui
returned
to
India
again,
but
found
himself
picking
his
return
ticket
soon.
Apparently,
there"s
a
story-within-story
here.
A
source
who
is
close
to
Shakeel,
says,
“Before
Shakeel
was
told
to
leave
this
time,
there"s
a
story
attached
to
his
visit.
It
seems
post
26/11
he
allegedly
made
unsavory
comments
against
our
country.
This
was
aired
by
a
very
famous
local
Pakistani
news
channel.
Officials
from
the
Indian
consulate
in
Pakistan
happened
to
view
these
comments.
When
Shakeel
applied
for
Indian
visa,
he
was
constantly
rejected.
Finally,
it
took
the
(Indian)
TV
channel,
which
provide
him
employment,
to
intervene
and
arrange
for
his
visa.
The
comedian
has
never
been
a
favorite
among
Indian
artists
here
too.
If
sources
are
to
be
believed,
then
Shakeel
had
once
hit
out
against
Indian
legend
and
'Comedy
Circus" season
1
judge
Johnny
Lever
for
being
too
critical
of
his
performances.
“Back
then,
all
that
Johnny
Lever
had
told
him
that
his
acts
have
been
seen
before
in
Pakistani
play
scripts.
He
wanted
him
to
come
up
with
something
new,
which
till
date
he
hasn"t.
Shakeel
hitting
out
against
Lever
was
totally
uncalled
for",
the
source
added.
The
man
himself
was
unavailable
as
he"s
cooling
his
heels
back
home
in
Pakistan.
Perhaps,
we"ll
have
to
surf
through
neighboring
TV
channels
to
see
his
reactions
after
being
given
an
unceremonious
farewell
again.