“I won’t engage Pakistani talent,” Karan Johar

Producer Karan Johar has been troubled for the last two weeks after political wing MNS called for protests and boycott of his next directorial venture Ae Dil Hai Mushkil for the reason that the movie has Pakistani actor Fawad Khan!

Following the subsequent ban on Pak actors in India, the situation became more intense for producers whose films have already been shot and have a Pakistani actor in it. Now, Karan Johar has finally released an official statement on the issue. In a video message released, Karan Johar said, “There has been some talk about why I remained silent for the past 2 weeks. Today, I would like to clarify that the reason why I have remained silent is because of the deep sense of hurt and the deep sense of pain that I have felt when I saw that a few people could actually believe that I am being anti-national. I need to say this and I say this with strength – For me, my country comes first. Nothing else matters to me but my country.”

Letting the cinema lovers of India remember that he has always  tried to portray love through his  work and cinema. “When I shot my film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil from September to December last year, the climate was completely different. The circumstances were completely different. There were efforts made by our government for the peaceful relationship with the neighbouring country. And I respected those endeavours, those efforts then. I also respect the sentiment today. I understand the sentiment because I feel the same,” he added. Karan Johar assured that he would not engage Pakistani actors. “Going forward, I would like to say that of course, I will not engage with talent from the neighbouring country, given the circumstance. But with that same energy, I beseech you to know one thing- that over 300 people in my Indian crew have put their blood, sweat and tears into making my film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. I don’t think it’s fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians. I respect the Indian army. I salute them for everything they do to protect us in our environment. I respect them with all my heart. And I say that I condemn any form of terrorism specially the terrorism that will affect the people of my country and me. I just hope all of you understand exactly the circumstance that we are in and respect the fact that we love and respect our country over and above anything else,” Karan Johar said.