Pakistani artistes controversy: Here's what Farhan Akhtar has to say

While the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to quit India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution asking producers to avoid working with talent from Pakistan. http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/celebrity/pakistani-artistes-controversy-ranbir-kapoor-is-tensed-on-ae-dil-hai-mushkil-row-says-ayan-mukherjee_1942007.html

New Delhi: The much-hyped Pakistani artistes controversy is only getting murkier with time. Recently, Bollywood star Farhan Akhtar also stepped forward to express his opinion about the same. The 42-year-old actor feels that a certain distinction should be made between artistes and others.

"As Indian citizens we will end up following any rule or law that is passed, even if we don`t agree with it. You know if it`s some kind governance or rule that is passed I guess we have to honor that. Personally I do believe that there is a certain distinction to be made between artists and others," ANI quoted him as saying.

Farhan further said, "Definitely they are ambassadors of their country and they were legally allowed to come here and work, film-makers were legally allowed to hire them and to work in their films. So, it is very unfortunate that when decisions were made, when things were good, when the atmosphere was good, when nobody was complaining about working with each other and it`s not only in film there is a lot of import and export that happens between the two country, a lot of export that happens and that is way beyond the film industry could imagine doing."

Amidst the ongoing clamour over the cross-border tension between India and Pakistan spilling into the entertainment world, some Indian outfits have imposed a ban on Pakistani artistes from India's showbiz world. 

The 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' hunk added, "and eventually there are people, there are producers, there are distributors who are Indians, whose reputation, whose money is riding on these films. So we are with these decisions also probably prospectively destroying their potential revenues. So there is a lot to be considered before just saying yes or no for some things."

The subsequent bilateral unrest between India and Pakistan had a spill over in film industries on both sides of the border.

While the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued an ultimatum to Pakistani artistes to quit India, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association passed a resolution asking producers to avoid working with talent from Pakistan.

Then, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India announced single screen theatres in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat won't screen "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil". MNS has been open about condemning the idea of releasing of the movie.

(With inputs from agencies)