Salman Khan said surgical strikes against terrorists were 'proper action' but favoured Pakistani talent.
Highlights
- Salman pitches for "peace and harmony" but supports army action
- He says sugical strikes "proper action" but artistes were not terrorists
- Says Pakistani actors come on visa issued by Indian government
Pitching for peace, mega star Salman Khan today said a distinction must be made between terrorists and Pakistani artistes who have been allowed by the government to work in India.
Amid a raging debate and public anger after Pakistani terrorists attacked an army base in Kashmir's Uri killing 18 soldiers, a film producers' association on Thursday said it was banning Pakistani actors like the popular Fawad Khan and other artistes from working in India "until the situation of hostilities between Pakistan and India subsides and the government of India declares that all is well with Pakistan."
"The ideal situation would be peace and harmony," Salman Khan said today, describing as "proper action," the surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army against Pakistani terrorists across the Line of Control on Wednesday night.
Those, however, the actor said "were terrorists, these are artistes. Two different issues." When asked to elaborate, Mr Khan said, "Are these artistes terrorists? They come here on a visa, who gives them that visa? Our government gives them visas."
Other prominent Bollywood personalities like Karan Johar have earlier spoken against banning Pakistani artistes. He told NDTV earlier this week that he understands and shares the anguish of people after the Uri attack, but banning talent from Pakistan was not the solution.
Mr Johar, whose soon to release film
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil stars Fawad Khan, said, "Today I feel I am a vulnerable, soft target... sometimes you want to, with folded hands, say that we are a creative industry, please leave us alone, we make movies, we spread love."
The Maharashtra Narvnirman Sena of politician Raj Thackeray has said it will disrupt the screening of the new Karan Johar film and also Shah Rukh Khan's
Raees, which is the Bollywood debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan.
The Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) said its ban would apply to new projects but that it would not stall films that feature Pakistani artistes and are ready for release.