Filmmaker Karan Johar has finally spoken about the ongoing controversy surrounding Pakistani artistes.
Commenting on the issue, Karan said that while his heart bleeds for the lives lost in the Uri terror attack, boycotting artistes from Pakistan is no solution to terrorism. “I understand the anger and the anguish that surround us and I empathise, my heart bleeds for the lost lives. There is nothing that can justify this terrible feeling of terror. Then you are faced in a situation such as this (asking for ban on Pak artistes). If this was truly a solution, one would take it," he said adding, “"But this is not a solution. I don't believe it is. The larger forces have to come together and sort the situation and this cannot be banning talent or art."
The filmmaker further said that he feels ‘vulnerable’ while speaking about it publicly.
"I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was to put out a product out of love and nothing else," said the 44-year-old.
When asked how he will deal with these threats, Karan said, "I don't know... I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let's look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer."
The Student Of The Year director also said that sometimes creative people feel so frustrated that they just want to fold hands and say 'leave us alone'.
Karan added, "I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in that scheme of things. I am just a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel, I am a vulnerable soft target. I have faced it, felt the repercussions of it in the past and I have constantly combated that."
"Sometimes, you just want to fold your hands and say, 'We are a creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions in the world, in our country who are happy with the work we do, allow us that...' I think we should not be those soft targets anymore. We don't matter in the scheme of things but we can make things happier and better," he concluded.
A couple of days ago, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had threatened Pakistani artistes including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar to leave India within 48 hours, failing which the shoot of their films will be stalled. The threat came in the wake of the Uri terror attacks which killed 18 Indian soldiers. Soon after, BJP asserted that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (which stars Fawad) and Raees (which stars Mahira Khan) will release only if Fawad and Mahira’s roles are completely chopped off (BJP says 'Release Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees but only if Fawad and Mahira's roles are completely chopped', Sep 23).
Thumbnail Image Source: Manav Manglani & trendinfo
The filmmaker further said that he feels ‘vulnerable’ while speaking about it publicly.
"I feel vulnerable and scared while even saying this. I completely feel the pain and anger. If my film is targeted because of this, it will make me exceptionally sad because my intent was to put out a product out of love and nothing else," said the 44-year-old.
When asked how he will deal with these threats, Karan said, "I don't know... I beseech everyone to look at it holistically and understand the situation, that there is a larger situation here and it has nothing to do with banning talent. Let's look at it from a larger perspective and find the answer."
The Student Of The Year director also said that sometimes creative people feel so frustrated that they just want to fold hands and say 'leave us alone'.
Karan added, "I am not somebody who can find the answer. I am nobody in that scheme of things. I am just a filmmaker, telling a love story. Today I feel, I am a vulnerable soft target. I have faced it, felt the repercussions of it in the past and I have constantly combated that."
"Sometimes, you just want to fold your hands and say, 'We are a creative industry. Please leave us alone. We make movies, we spread love. There are millions in the world, in our country who are happy with the work we do, allow us that...' I think we should not be those soft targets anymore. We don't matter in the scheme of things but we can make things happier and better," he concluded.
A couple of days ago, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had threatened Pakistani artistes including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar to leave India within 48 hours, failing which the shoot of their films will be stalled. The threat came in the wake of the Uri terror attacks which killed 18 Indian soldiers. Soon after, BJP asserted that Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (which stars Fawad) and Raees (which stars Mahira Khan) will release only if Fawad and Mahira’s roles are completely chopped off (BJP says 'Release Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees but only if Fawad and Mahira's roles are completely chopped', Sep 23).
Thumbnail Image Source: Manav Manglani & trendinfo