Hansal Mehta (BOMBAY TIMES; September 30, 2016)

I have only one question, If artistes are so important in India-Pakistan relations, then we should make one of them the Prime Minister of India and also ask Pak to do the same. Artistes are high-profile people. You want them to condemn terrorist attacks etc, don't do that. Point is if our government decides to take any action against Pakistan, all of us, as citizens of India, will abide by the government in national interest. But singling out actors or singers is not the right way to do it. If someone has not condemned (a terror attack), it's his prerogative.

Can you force someone to take a stand? Artistes are expected to express and perform, and through their expression you find their truth, not by their political stand. Many artistes are apolitical. If someone is a resident of Pakistan and is expected to condemn the establishment, are we as Indians going to protect him? Here we have political parties like MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) threatening, will they protect the Pakistani artistes later, after they condemn the establishment's wrong actions?

Today, by supporting them, I am under threat. How do you expect them to be protected then? Pakistan is a rogue state. So naturally, you expect their artistes to be protected for speaking against the establishment.