AIMAN INAM

MUMBAI: If the online reports are to be considered, National award-winning Indian filmmaker Shonali Bose desires to cast Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan.

According to the details, she was in a panel discussion when she demonstrated her desire to cast the actor. While criticizing the current conspiracy, she maintained, “Instead of taking action to protect the rights of women and project their image under the right light, they are restricting filmmakers from doing their work freely.”

Insinuating towards her wish, she further beams, “Cinema should be free… For instance, Pakistani actors are not allowed to work in Indian films, and this decision is supported by Indian Motion Pictures Producers’ Association. What if I want to make a film with Fawad Khan?”

It has further been learnt that upon her statements, one of the moderators warned her by saying that she could be given the title of anti-national upon which she responded, “That is the problem with our country nowadays.”

“I speak of friendship between two countries. I want to make a film with Fawad Khan and nobody will allow me to make the film; producer will not back the film because of the risk and fear that has been created around it.”

The fire to ban the Pakistani artists from Bollywood was first ignited back in 2016 when some 19 Indian soldiers killed in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Whereas, the recent controversy has begun when Union Minister Babul Supriyo demanded to cut the vocals of Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from the song Ishtehaar in the film titled Welcome to New York. Not only this but Supriyo also demanded to ban Pakistani artistes from Bollywood for unknown reasons.