Government has to decide who can work in India: Saif Ali Khan

Mumbai: Actor Saif Ali Khan believes cultural exchange should be encouraged and artistes may talk about love and peace, but ultimately, the onus lies on the government to decide who can or cannot work in the country.

Saif's comment comes in the wake of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) directive that Pakistani artistes must not work in India.

"It (cultural exchange) should definitely be encouraged. The world is open to our film industry and our film industry is open to the world talents, especially from cross-border. However, the government has to decide these things," Saif Ali Khan said.

"We are artistes who talk about love and peace. However, the government must make decisions about law and order and who is allowed to work and who isn't," Saif said on the sidelines of the GQ Men of the Awards event on Tuesday night here.

On Tuesday afternoon, MNS workers protested outside filmmaker Karan Johar's office here over Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's presence in the upcoming film "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil". Last week, the party gave Pakistani artistes 48 hours to leave India.