“Ranbir is tensed, everyone is worried about how things are unfolding. He is hoping for the best,” Ayan told reporters here at the opening of 18th MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival. Actress Richa Chaddha also voiced her support for the Karan Johar-directed film.
“If one film could finish terrorism, we could have banned many other films earlier,” she said at the event. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today extended the Centre’s support to makers of the movie and assured security
to exhibitors amid threats by MNS.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has been in the eye of controversy since the Uri attack last month, following which various sectors have been demanding a ban on Pakistani artists from working in India.
Last week, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India announced it would not release movies featuring Pakistani artistes in four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat and Karnataka.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil has become the first target of those who are against the inclusion of Pakistani artistes in Indian films after the September 18 Uri attack which killed 19 Indian soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was followed by surgical attacks that India conducted across LoC.
The subsequent bilateral unrest between India and Pakistan had a spill over in film industries on both sides of the border. While the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to quit India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution asking producers to avoid working with talent from Pakistan.
