Ae Dil Hai Mushkil: Bollywood producers seek Rajnath Singh's help post MNS threat

After maintaining stoic silence for many days on the issue, Karan Johar said that he wouldn’t engage with talent from the other side of the border under such tense circumstances in future.

Mumbai: Producers of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil are likely to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh today. It was earlier reported that Karan Johar too would be a part of the delegation. The producer-director’s film – Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – has been in controversy for featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. 

Film & Television Producers Guild of India president Mukesh Bhatt and Apoorva Mehta from Dharma Productions, will meet the Union Home Minister to discuss the smooth release of the upcoming film. Vijay Singh of Fox Star Studios will also accompany them during the afternoon meeting with Rajnath Singh.

After maintaining stoic silence for many days on the issue, Johar said that he wouldn’t engage with talent from the other side of the border under such tense circumstances in future.

The MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) had threatened to vandalise multiplexes that would screen Johar’s film. The political party led by Raj Thackeray had also threatened to  “beat up” those who engage with Pakistani artists.

The IMPPA (Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association) had imposed a ban on Pakistani artists/ technicians in India post the Uri terror attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

Subsequently, the Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India too decided to boycott films featuring Pakistani artists.

Producers of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, a film that also stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, had met Mumbai's top police officials a few days back seeking protection for the theatres.

The film releases on October 28.

(With PTI inputs)