Throw out Pakistani actors Fawad Khan of 'ADHM', Mahira Khan of 'Raees', demands MNS

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Wednesday demanded that Pakistani actor Fawad Khan be replaced in Karan Johar's "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" (ADHM), and Mahira Khan in Rahul Dholakia's "Raees". The outfit warned that they won't allow the release of the movies if their demand is not complied with.

The MNS had earlier threatened Pakistani artistes working in India to leave the country within two days or face consequences. The ultimatum came in the wake of the Uri terror attack that killed 18 soldiers.

"The day Pakistan will stop attacking our country, we will extend the hand of friendship. We do not have anything against art but the artistes who are employed in India, but remained mum on the terror attack in Uri. We gave them an ultimatum of 48 hours to leave India. You can rest assured that they have left, but if we find any Pakistani artiste, we won't spare (them)," Amey Khopkar, president of the MNS's film wing, said at a press conference.

The members of the outfit protested outside filmmaker Karan Johar's Dharma Productions office on Tuesday, demanding that actor Fawad Khan be replaced in the movie.

"Karan Johar isn't bigger than the government. If Karan Johar and 'Raees' makers don't replace the actors, we will not allow 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' and 'Raees' to release," said Khopkar.

MNS General Secretary Shalini Thackeray said that they will not allow any Pakistani actor to work in Mumbai.

"Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma. It is scheduled for a release on October 28. "Raees" is another Bollywood movie with Pakistani actor Mahira Khan opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The movie is scheduled to be released on January 26, 2017.

Filmmaker Karan Johar had earlier said that boycotting Pakistani artistes won't solve terrorism, and former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju described those who issued threats to Pakistani artistes to leave India as "shameless rascals who have disgraced the nation" on his Facebook page.

(With inputs from IANS)