MUMBAI: The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has banned Pakistani artists and technicians from displaying their skills in the Bollywood industry.
The ban placed by the film industry workers’ union in Mumbai, on Thursday, comes from a unanimous vote and prohibits Pakistani artists from performing in films as well as TV serials produced by Indian producers in any language.
The association cites a ‘war-like situation unleashed by Pakistan’ as a reason for the ban, alleging that numerous of their soldiers and common men have been killed because of it.
A press release issued by FWICE stated: “We stand by our security forces and their families in this hour of crisis and believe in ‘Nation comes first’.”
The ban notice has been forwarded to all affiliates and producers’ associations and bears the signatures of President Shri. Birendra Nath Tiwari and Hon. General Secretary Shri Ashok Dubey.
Previously, many Pakistani artists including Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Fawad Khan, Imran Abbas, Sajal Ali, Adnan Siddiqui, Mahira Khan, Urwa Hocane amongst many others have lent their vocals to and performed in different Bollywood film.
On the political front, relations between the two countries have become strained quite frequently. This causes artists from the local industry to sporadically bear the brunt of the burden.