In a belated but apparent damage-control exercise undertaken ahead of the release of his movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (ADHM) featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, filmmaker Karan Johar on Tuesday broke his silence and said that “for me, my country comes first” and that he would not engage any talent from the neighbouring country under the “given circumstances”.
On a day when Film & Television Producers Guild of India (Guild) president Mukesh Bhatt, along with Johar’s Dharma Productions’ team met Mumbai Police Commissioner Dattatray Padsalgikar and sought protection for ADHM’s release, Karan chose to come clean on the controversy over his decision to hire Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in his film.
The twin developments brightened the prospects of the release of Karan Johar’s film on October 28 as scheduled.
After the meeting, the Mumbai Police came out with a categorical statement that they would provide protection to the release of Johar’s film. “The Mumbai Police will provide adequate protection to cinema theatres as and when required,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police Ashok Dudhe.
Pakistan actor Fawad Khan co-stars with Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anushka Sharma in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
In 90-second video footage released to the media, Karan explained as to why he remained silent for the past one fortnight ever since the clamour for a ban on the release of ADHM and he felt “ a deep sense” of hurt and pain that a few people would actually believe that “I am being anti-national”.
“I need to say this and I say this with strength that for me my country comes first. Nothing else matters but my country,” Karan said.
“…Going forward I would like to say of course I will not engage talent from neighbouring country given the circumstances,” said the filmmaker.
Seeking to clarify his stand on the ongoing debate over a ban on the Pakistani artistes in the wake of a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp at Uri in Jammu & Kashmir, Karan said, “I respect the Indian Army. I salute the Indian Army for everything they do to protect us in our environment. I respect them with all my heart and I say I condemn any form of terrorism. Any form, especially the terrorism that would affect the people of my country and me”.
Explaining as to why he had chosen to hire Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in ADHM, Karan said, “When I shot my film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil — in September to December last year — the climate was completely different, the circumstances were completely different”.
“There were efforts made by our country for peaceful relationships with the neighbouring countries and I respect those efforts then, those endeavours then, and I respect the sentiment today. I understand the sentiment because I feel the same,” he said.
“With that same energy I beseech you to know one thing that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and I don’t think it is fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians,” said the ADHM maker.
“I hope all of you understand the circumstance and situation we are in and respect the fact we love and respect our country over and above anything else,” Karan concluded, after saluting the Indian Army and condemning all kinds of terrorism that affect the people of India.
The assurance of protection given by the Mumbai Police to Karan for the release of his film should be seen in the context of an announcement made on Friday by the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors’ Association of India (COEAI) -- a body representing 400-odd single screen theatres in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa that it had kept on hold the screening of ADHM in view of the “turmoil” in relations between New Delhi and Islamabad and the threat handed out to multiplex owners by the Raj Thackeray-led MNS against screening Johar’s film.
Meanwhile, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap -- who has come under severe flak for his angry tweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the efforts to ban the release of ADHM -- defended the stand taken by him through a series of tweets.
“It’s unfortunate that I have to explain my intention behind my tweet, because others and my industry colleagues have to suffer for me having an opinion,” Kashyap wrote in an extended Facebook post.
“I am tired of the film industry being soft targets. We are damned if we do, damned if we don’t! When we don’t involve ourselves, they ask “why is Bollywood quiet nowIJ” When we involve ourselves, we become the scapegoats to distract you from the real news,” he wrote.
Hitting out at the media for using the film industry to sensationalise news, Kashyap said, “Either way they use us to sensationalise news. Still, I’d rather put my opinions out there on my own platform, than give the media a bite.”
“NO, Anurag Kashyap did not “ask the PM to apologise” (which most of the headlines would want you to believe, no one has their mind anyways), I merely questioned the fairness in judgement of a situation: the PM visited Pakistan for talks at the same time that a filmmaker was working with a Pakistani actor. Neither was aware of future events or mood,” he said.
“Yet only one pays the price. I’m also well aware that the Government did not cry “BAN” or demand that Pakistani artistes be sent back. Just as I’m aware that the PM himself doesn’t censor my films,” said Kashyap.
“But we elected them and so it is their responsibility to protect us from bullies -- the media or political parties. And when the governing party’s designated members don’t respond in hours of crisis because they are second guessing the mood of the PM then I would rather talk straight to the PM himself,” he said.
“There was also sarcasm in the tweet that followed; ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ was for those mindless trollers who constantly ask for proof of your patriotism. Apparently that’s all it takes. It was a jibe at them. Patriotic slogans don’t absolve you from it all. I hope this explains,” said Kashyap.
While defending Johar and making a strong case for the release of ADHM, Kashyap had put out a series of tweets. Among other things, he had asked PM Narendra Modi why he was not expected to apologise for his visit to Pakistan. “@narendramodi Sir you haven’t yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM.. It was dec 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHMIJ WhyIJ” he wrote and followed it up with, “@narendramodi why is it that we have to face it while you can be silentIJIJ