Shyam Benegal refutes rumour of working with Fawad Khan

It has been rumoured that Shyam Benegal is planning to produce a film titled Ye Raaste Hai Pyar Ke, with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in lead role. The news certainly created a furore considering that Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) passed a resolution to temporarily ban Pakistani artistes from working in India following the Uri terror attack that took the lives of 19 Army jawans.

It was said that the film would be based on Indo-Pak relation, apparently in an attempt to promote Indo-Pak peace. To be directed by Harsh Narayan, Ye Raaste Hai Pyar Ke would revolve around two musicians who set out on a tour to both the countries. There are reports that Fawad could be soon seen playing one of the musicians. In fact, the report said that Fawad was in talks with the makers regarding the film.

However, Benegal slammed the reports claiming that he has no intention to make a film to promote Indo-Pak peace. He further said that Narayan was associating him with this film for mere publicity.

"I make films with subjects which interest me and I write their initial scripts as well. When somebody brings a script to me, I normally say 'No'. But here's a young man (Harsh Narayan) who is dying to make a particular film, and this is how he uses my goodwill to having merely spoken to him? I could understand if he wanted to involve me for mere consultancy to help him out, but I had clearly told him that I don't want to be professionally associated with his film in any capacity. What's his logic? May I say it aloud that I am NOT motivated to make a film to promote Indo-Pak peace," the National award winning filmmaker told SpotboyE.

He added, "He asked me to produce his film and I categorically told him that his subject is of NO interest to me. Later, he told me that he wanted to associate my name with his film to raise funds. I surely didn't expect that just these kind of conversations with him would boomerang on me so badly. I am extremely upset with him."

Meanwhile, Karan Johar is bearing the brunt of having casted Fawad in his soon-to-be released Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been protesting against the release of the film despite repeated requests from many people and associations to allow the smooth release of the completed movie.