Daily Times

Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar says he gave video statement of apology, on casting Pakistani artist in ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, under pressure.

He said he was under pressure from Raj Thackeray’s Hindu extremist party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan played a key role in Johar directed film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ which put the film in hot waters. As the film was inching towards release in October last year, MNS enforced a ban on movies featuring Pakistani artists in Bollywood.

Eventually, Johar had to prove his patriotism to get his film release out of trouble. So, he recorded a video statement in which he makes resolve not to ‘engage with talent from Pakistan’.

In an interview with a host of Indian channel, Karan admitted that he was torn between ideology and circumstance, at the release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’.

“Even though I have my own belief and thoughts on the same, there was a studio and cast to whom I was accountable. That’s why I had to issue the statement, about which I felt terrible about,” he said.

Karan Johar termed his video apology as one of his top three worst moments in life, said he felt like there was an invisible gun on his head. “It was extremely terrible to sit before camera and profess my nationalism and patriotism,” he said.

“Everyone said it seemed like you were going to cry. I wanted to break into tears for the fact that I had to do this. It felt like there was an invisible gun on my head.”