Won't work with Pak artistes again: Karan Johar

Filmmaker Karan Johar on Tuesday said for him India comes first and in future he would not hire Pakistani artistes, but appealed for the release of the film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. 

ADHM is written and directed by Johar and produced by Dharma Production, his home banner. The film stars Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Deepti Naval, and Lisa Haydon. Pakistani artiste Fawad Khan made a special appearance in the film. Even Shah Rukh Khan did a cameo in the movie. 

Following  the Uri incident, the issue of using Pakistani artistes and technicians became a major issue. The film is slated to be released on October 28.However, this is the first time the 44-year-old filmmaker spoke out through a video statement. “There has been some talk of why I remained silent for the past two weeks. Today, I would like to clarify why I remained silent. It is because of a deep sense of hurt, deep sense of pain that I felt, that a few people would actually believe that I am being anti-national,” he said.

Karan pointed out that when the film was shot in September to December last year, the climate was



completely different, the circumstances were completely different. 

“There were efforts made by our country for peaceful relationships with the neighbouring countries and I respected those efforts then, those endeavors then, and I respect the sentiment today. I understand the sentiment because I feel the same. Going forward I would like to say of course I will not engage talent from neighbouring country given the circumstance,” he said.

“With that same energy, I beseech you to know one thing that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and I don't think it is fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians,” Karan said pleading against disruption of the film in theatres.

Speaking about the army and on the issue of terrorism, the filmmaker said: “I respect the Indian Army, I salute the Indian Army for everything they do to protect us in our environment. I respect them with all my heart and I condemn any form of terrorism. Any form, especially the terrorism that would affect the people of my country and me.”