Bollywood ban on Pakistani artists: The causes and effects

On the heels of the Indian army announcing surgical strikes to neutralise terror launchpads across the Line of Control in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Indian motion picture producers’ association (IMPPA) on Thursday banned Pakistani actors and technicians from Bollywood ‘s new projects “till normalcy returns’.

The IMPPA, however, clarified that films already shot will not face any trouble for their releases. IMPPA’s clarification came in the light of the threats issued by MNS last week in response to the Uri attack. The party had issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Pakistani artistes and actors including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar, to leave India by September 25 or else they would be “pushed out”.

While Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and actor-singer Ali Zafar are the prominent faces who could be affected by the ban, it would affect the music industry of Bollywood more than filmmakers. From music albums to playback singing, there are several prominent Pakistani artists involved in big-budget Indian projects. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Zafar and Atif Aslam are just a few famous names that will be affected by the ban.

Ashoke Pandit has assured that the ban will be applicable for new projects, not for films that have already been made.

The films that will be affected by the ban include Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi that stars Alia Bhatt in lead role and Ali Zafar plays one of her suitors in the movie. Mahira Khan has also signed films that are yet to begin shooting and are likely to be stalled by the ban. Fawad, too, was rumoured to have finalised Salman Khan’s next film but the project could now be jeopardised.

Read: We should have done this earlier: John Abraham on surgical strikes

However, it is not just Bollywood that provides a platform for these Pakistani actors. Fawad, Ali and Mahira have been simultaneously working on Indian and Pakistani projects. They even have a few films lined up at home, apart from the ones in Bollywood. Among them are Alamgir biopic Albela Rahi and Maula Jatt 2. Singers Atif and and Rahat, too, have projects in Pakistan and they even perform at concerts the world over.

Recently the concerts of Pakistani singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam scheduled in Bengaluru and Gurgaon respectively have been cancelled.

IMPPA president TP Aggarwal has reportedly replaced Rahat from his upcoming film Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana.

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