Article 370 Revoked In Jammu And Kashmir: Bollywood Celebrities React To Pakistan Banning Indian Films

Yesterday, Pakistan sent out a new advisory banning Indian films from Pakistan. Raising a lot of controversies followed a tweet from the neighbouring country a ban on Indian films to be placed immediately. The tweet came from Pakistan PM Imran Khan’s adviser Firdaus Ashiq Awan.The decision came after the Indian Government revoked Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Members of the Indian film fraternity have reacted to this decision and say that it doesn’t make any difference to India and that it is Pakistan’s loss instead.

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), reacted to Pakistan’s decision and told IANS, "It does not make any difference whether Pakistanis watch our films or not. I think the internal security of the country comes first. Whether films release there or not is irrelevant. We have a clear issue in front of us. Our film industry is very big. Even business wise it does not matter. We are talking about our country.” Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who once did a cameo in the Pakistani film Ishq Positive, told IANS, "Pakistan banning Indian film is their loss not ours. But (revocation of) Article 370 is the best thing that could have happened in the last 72 years."

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar told IANS, "Firstly, I am not surprised because they already severed many other bilateral relationships. I am not surprised because they have to take a grand standing in front of their people because Article 370 has been abolished. The film industry has shown solidarity since Pulwama."

Actor Vidyut Jamwal, who himself hails from Jammu says, "The Hindi film industry had stopped releasing films post Pulwama attack, as a show of solidarity to the defense services. This was never promoted or discussed on public platforms. The business of Indian films continues growing globally. The revocation of Article 370 was a bold and much-needed move. Any consequence arising from the decision is inconsequential .”

Even earlier, Pakistan had banned Indian films like Raazi, Aiyyari, Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran, Mulk, Pad Man, Veere Di Wedding, Pari owing to various different reasons.  Not only Indian films, every other Indian  content has also been banned from Pakistan.