Dharma refutes rumours that the Pakistani actor will be replaced in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil; Excel mum on Mahira in SRK starrer Raees
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; October 11, 2016)

In the wake of the escalating tension within Bollywood on the fate of films starring Pakistani actors, including Karan Johar’s Fawad Khan starrer Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees featuring Mahira Khan, several rumours and reports have alleged a series of developments in the casting.

However, murmurs of Fawad being replaced by actor Saif Ali Khan in the romantic-drama through “face replacement technology” have been negated by spokesperson from Dharma Productions. “The news is utter bullshit. Nothing of that sort is happening. The film is prepping up for release the way it currently is.”

Meanwhile the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) delegation led by its president T P
Agarwal, who had met the Maharastra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leaders seeking their co-operation to release the said films (Oct 7), have asked for another appointment with MNS. The party leaders have however refused to budge from their stand.

Talking to hitlist, MNS Chitrapat Sena leader Ameya Khopkar, said, “There is no scope for discussion about releasing any film featuring Pakistan artistes. The Uri attack happened last month but we have been telling filmmakers to avoid working with Pakistani artistes for over 10 years now. They should have thought about the repercussions earlier. I don’t care.”

Speculations have been rife that the producers of Raees have decided to replace Mahira in the film. While speaking on condition of anonymity, the production team of Raees has denied any such move. There has been no official response though, besides the director Rahul Dholakia’s cryptic tweet yesterday: “Cooker ki saat seeti baj chuki hai, aag dena bandh kar (not a line from Raees, I have better dialogues).”

Despite repeated attempts by hitlist, Dholakia, co-producer Ritesh Sidhwani and others at Excel Entertainment remained unavailable for comments. A source close to Excel informed that the team had been asked to avoid connecting with the media on the topic, “else their payments will be stopped!”