‘Pak actors are artistes, not terrorists’

Questioning the campaign against the actors, Salman Khan said art and terrorism should not be mixed.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Friday questioned the campaign against Pakistani actors working in India, saying they were not terrorists and art and terrorism should not be mixed. The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association had passed a resolution on Thursday, banning Pakistani actors from the industry in the wake of the Uri attack.

“They are artistes. What do you think...Are artistes terrorists,” he asked. “They come to India with visa. Who gives them the visa? Our (Indian) government gives them visa. The government gives them work permit,” he said.

On the surgical strikes that India carried out, Salman Khan said: “The ideal situation would have been of peace. Now when this has happened, then obviously there will be a reaction to this action.” Earlier, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) asked Pakistani actors to leave India by September 25. MNS had also asked for a ban on films such as Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees that feature Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

Singer Adnan Sami, who was granted Indian citizenship in 2015, also supported the surgical strikes. He tweeted: “Big Congratulations to @PMOIndia & our brave Armed forces for a brilliant, successful & mature strategic strike against #terrorism ! #Salute.”