Bollywood celebrities started to speak in support of Pakistani artists who are endlessly facing threats by the radical India party Shiv Sena. These celebrities firmly said there politics should not be included in art and culture.
Shiv Sena is the coalition party of BJP, the ruling party, and both shae views about Pakistani celebrities in India. Both parties are now saying that they will not allow any Pakistani either it is cricketer, musician, singer or actor to perform in India.
However, various Bollywood celebrities stand against the threats by Shiv Sena. Here are few quotes.
Director Anurag Basu,
“This has nothing to do with art and artists. Bollywood has never got affected with this till now and never will. The ethos of India and Bollywood is very strong, which nobody can shatter. And this binds together the whole country. When we go to watch a film in the theater, you don’t think if the person sitting beside you is a Hindu or a Pakistani.”
Director Kabir Khan,
“I feel that arts and culture should be kept away from politics. Politics is at its place and culture exchange is at its place and above politics. There are numerous actors, singers and performers from Pakistan in our industry. They are a crucial component and they should be allowed to continue being a part of it.”
Actor Emraan Hashmi,
“There should not be any bounds on creativity. We see numerous international stars performing and there shouldn’t be any bounds to that. Creativity shouldn’t be stifled, everyone should be there to express.”
Actress Soha Ali Khan,
“As an artist, as a citizen of the country, I consider it wrong. It’s not what India stands for and that’s not what films and art stand for. So, along with all the authors who’re giving back their awards, so that’s what we need to do.”
Lyricist-singer Swanand Kirkire,
“Shiv Sena is party with a certain viewpoint and I don’t agree to it. Art is the only medium through which we know about the culture of other places. People grow more when there is cultural exchange. It’s just what a party is saying, not what the country says. If it was what the country said, then these artists wouldn’t have been called here. People want to listen to Ghulam Ali.”
Actress Nimrat Kaur,
“It’s a free world and the pleasure of being an artist is that you can perform anywhere and reach out to people anywhere. I come from a democratic bent and I don’t endorse any sort of inhibition on artist being able to perform anywhere. So it is very sad to hear this in any part of the world.”
Director Omung Kumar,
“It’s not correct and I think it’ll die down, but this shouldn’t happen. Films could be affected and will get affected but hopefully people are working it out and I think it wouldn’t be for a long time.”
Director Mohit Suri,
“I don’t believe in bans. Art should move freely across.”
Leave a Reply