Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 28, 2018)

As news about Sudhir Mishra’s upcoming political thriller, DaasDev being deferred for the third time began to trickle in yesterday, mid-day learnt that the makers have come across yet another hurdle. Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has been repeatedly shrugging off requests to promote his latest ditty, Sehmi Hai Dhadkan, from the film, producer Sanjeev Kumar alleges.

Kumar is certain that Aslam’s reservations stem from the comments made by politician Babul Supriyo last week, when he criticised the singer while discussing the employment of Pakistani artistes in Indian cinema.

Sehmi Hai Dhadkan was launched on February 22 as the first song from Mishra’s film, a contemporary take on Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, Devdas. Ever since, the makers have been requesting Aslam to promote the song on his social media handles, apart from conducting a Facebook live sessions.

“Atif said he will do it, but it hasn’t been done,” Kumar tells mid-day. “I’m not sure why he isn’t taking part in the activity, but, as a producer, I see that work promised hasn’t been executed He hasn’t delivered on his word.”

Supriyo had objected to the inclusion of Pak singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice in Welcome To New York. On being probed further, he had expressed displeasure over the inclusion of Aslam’s voice in Tiger Zinda Hai (2017). Evidently unhappy with the politician’s comments, Kumar says, “Normally, such statements are made by fringe groups. When a minister says it, it impacts more people. But, we needed Atif for this song. He has 20 million followers on social media. Imagine the kind of traction we would have got had he promoted it.”