No restrictions on Pakistani artistes, says Venkaiah Naidu

New Delhi, October 26

The government has not imposed restrictions on Pakistani artistes working in India but filmmakers should respect the sentiments of the people while engaging them, says Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu.

He also feels that Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had mediated between the producers of “Ae Dil Hai Muskhil” and the Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS), did no wrong or had any role in asking the producers to pay Rs 5 crore towards the Army welfare fund. In principle, Naidu says he is not in favour of imposing a ban on artistes from other countries to work in India, but at a time when “a proxy war” was on with the neighbouring country, filmmakers should keep the situation in mind.

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“People say art has no boundaries. Yes, art has no boundaries but countries have boundaries. That has to be kept in mind... The artistes have the responsibility to ensure they do not hurt people’s sentiments.

“Where there is practically a proxy war going on and your neighbour is provoking you by encouraging and funding terrorists on a regular basis and killing thousands of people and your jawans, in such a situation if you engage in a debate that art is our right, then that will upset people. But the government has not imposed restrictions on anyone.” Naidu feels Fadnavis did the right thing in defusing the row over the release of “Ae Dil hai Mushkil” on being approached by the Producers Guild in the wake of threats from the MNS.

“Fadnavis has done the correct thing. He is responsible for law and order in the state. So, he worked for resolving the issue amicably.” — PTI