While various Film bodies have decided to ban Pakistani actors in India, as a sign to stand for the nation against terrorism, the Government of India has revealed that it has no plans to revoke the visa granted to Pakistan artistes working in Bollywood, reported PTI.
“There is no proposal to revoke the visa granted to Pakistani artistes working in India,” a senior Home Ministry official said.
In fact, a Home ministry official told IANS, that there has been no change in the rules and procedures.
“Government of India has no problem in giving visa to any Pakistani artiste, we have no problem in granting visas. If a person applies for visa and he fulfills the conditions, he gets it. It’s not that we don’t have to issue visa to Pakistani nationals,” said the official.
Post the Uri Attacks in September, public outrage started brewing against Pakistani actors. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has decided to boycott them and threatened them with violence. Even Indian directors such as Karan Johar were not spared by the MNS.
Subsequently, the Indian Motion Picture Producer Association also took the decision of not casting any Pakistani artist in future.
With just a few days left for the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India on Friday announced it will not allow release of films with Pakistani artistes in single screens in Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat and Karnataka.