After the Indian Motion Producers Pictures Association (IMPPA) took a stand to ban talent from across the border following the Uri attack, Ajay Devgn has come out in support of the decision.

Ajay is the first mainstream star to openly say that the Hindi film industry should not work with Pakistani talent till the situation at the border is diffused. He told Bombay Times, “I have got nothing against Pakistani actors, singers or other artistes. I have worked with them and love their music, too. But we need to understand that they are standing by their country and we should stand by ours. I stand by our jawans as this is not their war alone. They are fighting for the nation. We can't behave as if everything is fine in our lives while our soldiers are getting killed at the border. I think until this problem is solved, we should stop this exchange of culture.“

And what does he have to say about some people's argument that art, culture and sports should not be mixed with politics? “This is not a political issue, it's a national issue and terrorism affects everyone, like it did in Peshawar. Our security forces personnel are getting killed by terrorists at the border. Imagine how they would feel if we say we'll still carry on with our cultural exchange. It's not fair to them and their families.“

Ask him if he's worried about his stand being looked upon as a publicity ploy just ahead of his Diwali release Shivaay, which clashes with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil that stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, Ajay counters, “I don't care about what people think or say. I didn't create Uri or the surgical strikes. It's unfortunate that Uri happened. Many actors have condemned the terror attack. Even Amitji (Amitabh Bachchan), Akshay (Kumar) and Shah Rukh Khan have condemned it.“

While he maintains that we shouldn't work with Pakistani artistes till circumstances improve, he also believes films featuring actors from across the border should be allowed to release. “I feel IMPPA has taken the right stand that we should not be working with Pakistani talent. However, I also feel that the release of films that have been completed and feature Pakistani actors, should not be stalled,“ he says.