Ajay Devgn bats for release of Karan Johar's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil'

Ajay Devgn

Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has come out in support of Karan Johar's upcoming film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', saying banning Indian films featuring Pakistani artistes is "unfair". After the Uri terror attack, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had demanded a ban on Pakistani artistes working in Bollywood and not allowing release of films featuring such actors.

"Sometimes, it gets difficult to remove anybody from a film that has already been completed. I feel, when people have shot a film before an issue has happened, they should be allowed to release it," Ajay told PTI.

'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in a special appearance while 'Raees' is slated to see the Bollywood debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Ajay, however, refused to comment on the MNS' stance, saying, "It is a political issue I do not want to get into." Voicing his support for the army, he said soldiers should be motivated in this "tough" scenario.

"We admire their work and they admire us and our work. Right now, the situation is that our security forces are fighting and dying. So, we have a responsibility to keep their morale up. Otherwise, they will feel, we are dying here and these people are going on with their lives like nothing has happened," the actor said.

"So, my stand is with the security forces and my request is, till the problem is solved, it should be that way," he added. "I do not worry about backlash. I speak from the heart, whether good or bad. I think, sensible people will understand that those who want to create controversies, will do so," he said.

Ajay (47) insists that he is "open" to work with Pakistani actors once the situation between the two countries "normalises". "Once the problem is solved, I would love to work with them again. We all should work together as an exchange of culture is important. But, it cannot happen at the time when you are exchanging bullets. I respect them. They are standing by their country and we stand by ours," he said. Asked if he thought the Pakistani actors had reacted late, Ajay said, "They have not reacted. It is a diplomatic statement. You do expect them to react."

While filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Salman Khan have voiced their opinion that the demand for a ban on Pakistani actors is not justified, Ajay has a different view on this. "I have not spoken anything against my fraternity. We are talking about the country and I do not want our people to fight," he said. Ajay's 'Shivaay' is set to lock horns with Karan's 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', both of which are slated for release on October 28.