Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: MNS continues protests against Karan Johar; says won’t allow film’s release

The MNS led by Raj Thackeray protested against the release of Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil on Wednesday outside a Mumbai multiplex.

Mumbai: A day after Karan Johar said that he wouldn’t engage with talents from the other side of the border in future under such tense circumstances between India and Pakistan, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray continued to protest against the film’s release.

According to @CNNnews18, MNS workers protested outside a Mumbai multiplex and said that they would not allow release of Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.

In the video, Karan on Tuesday said: "I remained silent because of deep sense of hurt that I felt, that there are a few people who actually believe that I am being anti-national. I need to say this and I say this with strength that for me this country comes first.

"Nothing else matters to me but my country. I have always felt that the best way to express your patriotism is to spread love and that is all I have done through my work."

He added: "When I shot my film ADHM in September to December the last year, the climate was completely different. The circumstances were completely different. There were efforts made by our government for the peaceful relationship between the nations and I respect those endeavours then, those efforts then and I respect the sentiment today. I understand the sentiments as I feel the same."

"Going forward, I would like to say that I will not engage with the talent from the neighbouring country in the circumstance but with that same energy I beseech you to know one thing that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears into my film and I don't think it's fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians."

The Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association had urged its members not to engage with artists or technicians from the other side of the border until tensions between India and Pakistan die down. This move was taken by the IMPPA after the Uri terror attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

Last week, the Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India had decided to boycott films with Pakistani talents.