Vishal dedicates Haider national awards to Kashmiri Pandits

Vishal Bhardwaj, whose Haider, won 5 National Film Awards on Tuesday, has dedicated the awards to Kashmiri Pandits, after the awards were announced. Anupam Kher, one of the best known faces championing the cause of Kashmiri Pandits, however, is not impressed.

Vishal Bhardwaj, whose third Shakespeare adaptation, Haider, won five National Film Awards on Tuesday, has dedicated the awards to Kashmiri Pandits, after the awards were announced.

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Talking to reporters, Vishal said, "I dedicate my award to them and I feel very sad because they misunderstood my feelings. I have said it before that the tragedy of Kashmiri Pandits is very big."

Actor Anupam Kher, one of the best known faces championing the cause of Kashmiri Pandits, however, is not impressed.

In fact, the former Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) chief took to Twitter to slam the director. Anupam tweeted, "While I congratulate Vishal Bhardwaj for National Awards but dedicating them to #KashmiriPandits genocide is such a fraudish thing to do. When was last time Vishal Bhardwaj spoke about d plight of #KashmiriPandits?"

Anupam also revisited the controversy that surrounded the Shahid Kapoor-starrer Haider. "He in fact humiliated us by doing dance of devil at our temple.The so called 'Hindu' centric Govt. gave Haider 5 National Awards which many felt was anti-Hindu & anti Indian Army. This is NOT Talibanism."

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