IMPPA puts temporary ban on Pak artistes

Wednesday 12th October 2016 06:46 EDT
 

In the light of the souring relations between India and Pakistan, the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association banned Pakistani actors and technicians from Bollywood "till normalcy returns". The board clarified that their projects and films that have already been shot, will not face any consequences. The clarification came after the MNS issued a 48 hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors including Fawad Khan and actor-singer Ali Zafar.

IMPPA's Ashoke Pandit assured that the ban will only be applicable to new projects and not for films that have already been made. The move will however still make a lot of impact as it will stall several films including Gauri Shinde's 'Dear Zindagi', where Ali Zafar plays one of the lead roles, and those signed by Mahira Khan, and Fawad Khan. Not just the actors, singers like Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan had work lined up too. Concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif, scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon, respectively, were recently cancelled.

The move was called irrelevant by Indian film producer, and censor board chief Pahlaj Nihalani. He said, "Who are these people asking for a ban? By whose authority are they asking for this ban? Not one producer member of IMPPA is working with a Pakistani artist. The ones who stand to lsoe heavily from such a ban are Karan Johar, and Ritesh Sidhwani, who have almost completed films with Pakistani artistes." The entire film fraternity is caught in a deadlock, with people weighing in on the ban of Pak actors and artists.


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