IMPPA, India's largest filmmaker association, has passed a resolution disallowing artistes
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 30, 2016)

India’s surgical strike on terrorist launch pads across the LoC in Pakistan on Thursday morning coincided with the annual general meeting of the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) in Mumbai. In the 11 am meeting, the association’s members, led by President T P Aggarwal, Vice Presidents, Ashoke Pandit and Nitin Mavani and Senior Vice President, Abhay Kumar Sinha, passed a resolution banning Pakistani artistes and technicians across the film, television and theatre mediums in India until normalcy is reinstated between the restive neighbours.

While Pakistani actor-singer Ali Zafar is gearing up for the release of Gauri Shinde’s romance-drama, Dear Zindagi, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has been protesting outside filmmaker Karan Johar’s Khar office demanding the ouster of Pak actor Fawad Khan from his upcoming romance-drama, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, IMPPA has clarified that projects that have already been completed don’t fall under the purview of the resolution. “All the Pak actors including Fawad and Mahira Khan (Shah Rukh Khan’s leading lady in Raees) who have already filmed in India, even if only for a day, will not be subjected to any delays or bans,” Ashoke informed Mirror, pointing out that the move is in alliance with the State Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s vision. “These actors were granted permission by the Indian Government to work in the film industry. Now, they have all left the country and their will be no hindrance in the release of their projects,” a source from a leading Indian production house informed Mirror. Meanwhile, 32-year-old Pak model-actress, Saba Qamar, will be able to make her Bollywood debut in Ajay Devgn's Shivaay, since the film is complete. However, her follow-up project, Hindi Medium opposite Irrfan Khan, might get shelved in light of the recent developments.

After the motion was passed, IMPPA members cheered on T P Aggarwal who was also given a standing ovation for deciding to replace composer-singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan from his upcoming production, Laali Ki Shaadi Main Laaddoo Deewana (Mirror, September 29).

Across the border, a petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking a ban on screening of Indian movies, starting with Neeraj Pandey’s M S Dhoni: An Untold Story, which was to hit screens across the border today.

Joining the IMPPA movement, actors and National School of Drama alumni -- Kay Kay Menon, Manoj Bajpayee, Vijay Raaz and Anupam Kher -- have reiterated that the influx of Pakistani talent will no longer be tolerated in India. “I’m urging Bollywood to think about our martyrs. Blood and Bollywood can’t co-exist,” Kher thundered.

Pak singer Atif Aslam, who has delivered chartbusters like “Bas Ek Pal” and “Tere Bin” was to perform at a concert on October 15 in Gurgaon but the event has been called off by the Deputy Commissioner of Gurgaon, TL Satyaprakash, on the insistence of the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal who advised the district administration against letting the concert happen in the city in the wake of Uri attacks.

KEY EVENTS

» The annual general meeting took place at 11 am on Thursday morning

» Actors including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Saba Qamar and Ali Zafar who have already completed projects don’t fall under the resolution’s purview

» Resolution in alliance with the State Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore’s vision

» A petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking a ban on screening of Indian movies, starting with MS Dhoni: The Untold Story

» Atif Aslam’s concert in Gurgaon cancelled at the behest of Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal
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Producers’ guild rules against working with actors, singers and technicians from neighbouring country until further notice
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 30, 2016)

A day after producer T P Aggarwal dropped a Rahat Fateh Ali Khan song from his upcoming Laali Ki Shaadi Mein Laddoo Deewana, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) headed by him banned all artistes and technicians from across the border. The decision came after producers raised the issue at the annual general meeting on Thursday.

Aggarwal says, “After the Peshawar attacks (in 2014) , each Indian artiste had expressed grief. (School) Children were killed mercilessly and it is not human to pardon that. But, none of the Pakistani actors are doing it (expressing sympathy post the September 18 Uri attacks). They criticise each terror attack, why is India any different? Many of them work here and it is beyond me why they can’t raise their voice.”

The association’s vice president, Ashoke Pandit clarifies that the ban will not affect films that have begun production or are on the verge of completion or release. “The decision to ban them is not permanent. But, keeping in mind the present scenario, it is better if we maintain distance (from Pakistani artistes). This is the oldest producers’ association in the industry and 70 per cent of producers, be it regional or Bollywood, are a part of this. Most corporate houses, too, are affiliated to us. But, the resolution applies only to future films. We, as a group, didn’t want to remain silent on the issue,” he adds.