With every passing day, the division in Bollywood is becoming more apparent as industry insiders remain divided over the idea of Pakistani actors, musicians and technicians working in India.
With every passing day, the division in Bollywood is becoming more apparent as industry insiders remain divided over the idea of Pakistani actors, musicians and technicians working in India.
In a surprising twist of fate, while the influential Salman Khan batted for Pakistani artists recently and earned the wrath of the MNS, fellow actors Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar share the exact opposite sentiment.
In an interview with CNN-News18, Devgn recently said, “How do you expect me, when there is a constant exchange of bullets, to sit down and isolate them?”
When asked if he is willing to work with Pakistan actors, Devgn said, “Not at the moment. I heard some people say that talks are the only way to continue. I want to see you getting into a fight with somebody after he gives you a tight slap on your face and you say ‘let’s have a talk right now.’”
Taking a jibe at colleagues (like Karan Johar who continue to support Pakistani actors), Devgn noted, “It’s saddening. I don’t know what the reasons are. Country comes before money. What will you do with money if your country sinks?”
He added, “You can’t clap with one hand. You keep talking to people but then they come and kill you. How can you still continue a dialogue?”
Devgn’s statements were endorsed by wife Kajol who took to Twitter and wrote, “So proud of my husband for taking a non-political and absolutely correct stand. @ajaydevgn #ProudIndian.”
Also making a stand on the issue is Akshay Kumar who spoke his mind in a recent video. “I am not speaking to you as a celebrity today,” said Kumar. “I am speaking to you as the son of an army man. For the past few days, I have been seeing and reading that people are arguing and some are asking for proof about surgical strikes, some are demanding ban on artistes, while some fear that there might be a war. Arey sharam karo (have shame). These debates can happen later. First one must realise that people have already laid down their lives at the border. Nineteen jawans died during the attack and a 24-year-old jawan Nitin Yadav died in Baramulla,” he said.
