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Young artists shouldn't have to seek work outside Pakistan: Shaan on India-Pak tensions

Young artists shouldn't have to seek work outside Pakistan: Shaan on India-Pak tensions

The actor urges Pakistan's intellectual elite to improve the film industry
Updated 14 Oct, 2016

At a time when Indian films have been banned in Pakistan and cinema-owners are woeful of their profit margins, Shaan Shahid gives his two cents on the matter in hope of boosting morale.

The fiercely patriotic actor took to Facebook and emphasised that his focus has always been geared towards making the local entertainment industry better as opposed to boosting his own accomplishments.

"It's a proud moment for Pakistani films and I'm honoured to be a part of them. For me the only option ever was to bring Pakistani films out of its boundaries and show the world what immense talent and scripts we have in Pakistan so I always kept my focus on building Pakistani film industry rather than building my own career," Shaan wrote to his followers.

Shaan urges his fellow fans to step in and help to build the industry for future generations. At the same time he also took a jab at Pakistan's intellectual elite saying they weren't concerned with engaging with culture unless it suited their own ends: "Let all the intellectual elite of Pakistan come to the rescue of art and culture but I guess their art is hanging on their walls as paintings of Sadequain and narrated poetry of Faiz Ahmed Faiz they need to collectively support and promote Pakistani films if you don't agree with the films we make than make one. Come join us."

He closed his statement with a call for Pakistani filmmakers to create narratives countering the way Pakistan is viewed in the rest of the world by creating our own versions of superheroes and films like 'Zero Dark Thirty'.

Though many see his patriotism as a reaction to him not gaining foothold in India, Shaan has time and again called out artists for working across the border, stating that they should only work for the local industry.

Comments

Awesome Lyrics Oct 14, 2016 03:31pm
How many movies per year does Shaan make and generate jobs for locals?
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Ismail Oct 14, 2016 04:01pm
"Though many see his patriotism as a reaction to him not gaining foothold in India" This is not true, he was offered roles in Indian films but he is too nationalistic to work in India.
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Zak Oct 14, 2016 04:18pm
Shan is our hero. And he is right.
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Alexey Oct 14, 2016 04:53pm
There is a decent guy. Not a big fan of his movies but he is dead right. It is our responsibility to promote our own industry. And articles like this make us feel like its a sin to be a patriot.
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MP Singh Oct 14, 2016 05:06pm
They would not like to go out if enough opportunities exist in Pakistan.
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sadiq Oct 14, 2016 05:38pm
yes sir you our heroo we salute you shaan
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Umreekan_Sundi Oct 14, 2016 05:44pm
Well, Shaan was the "hero" of all those Gujjar and Gandasa movies that unfortunately dominated the silver screens in early 90s and 2000s. His contribution in improving the quality of cinema has been minimal.
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a k gupta Oct 14, 2016 06:03pm
@Ismail He wasn't a nationalist. If he were one, he should not have entertained the discussion in the first place. You don't get offer by an artist of Aamir's caliber everyday. He did not want to do role of a villain. Period! (of course in hindsight, he may now be regretting that decision given how great the role of the villian also turned out to be)
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Changez Khan Oct 14, 2016 06:11pm
Agree 100% with Shaan. Pakistani actors and entertainers MUST stay away from India.
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ShiningPakiStars Oct 14, 2016 06:32pm
Love and respect for Shaan Shahid .
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Abraham Haque Oct 14, 2016 07:06pm
@Awesome Lyrics as a movie buff never heard of him
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shary Oct 14, 2016 07:14pm
Cant agree more..
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haris Oct 14, 2016 07:36pm
"Though many see his patriotism as a reaction to him not gaining foothold in India" This is utter nonsense. I'm not a great fan of Shaan but I know one thing , he was neither obsess to work in Bollywood films nor he encourages others to do so. He was bit harsh in an award ceremony last year when he criticized Pakistani actors going to India.
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haris Oct 14, 2016 07:37pm
@Umreekan_Sundi : perhaps you are still unaware of his movies released in past 2 years.
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Zara Oct 14, 2016 07:40pm
Well you didn't do anything worth mentioning in your 25 years reign as a hero. Most of us believe you lot, along with your gandasa movies are the real reason for the industry's downfall.
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Tamil Nadu Oct 14, 2016 07:41pm
Good suggestion Sir, Please encourage your artists to stay in your country and enrich your industry. This is a humble request from an Indian. Please do not send them.
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Striver Oct 14, 2016 07:46pm
We as a nation are fools for not recognising our heroes; not knowing patriotism is rampant in every nation; it hits you in the face in America everyday; it's far more conspicuous at times of crisis in the west such as Iraq war, Syria crisis, etc. Shaan is absolutely right. His critics, including those who falsely attribute comments to him, must know that they lack th courage to admit that PK can easily surpass the "Bollywood movies" in quality. These critics are living an inferiority complex and extend it PK.
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Skeptic Oct 14, 2016 08:07pm
Exactly two cents worth!
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Sameer Oct 14, 2016 08:55pm
He is not that great, seriously!! he needs to get over himself. The new generation has much more better take on things then this guy. He has a agenda against bollywood actors their actors could care less. He needs to stop the hate on his end. His movie right now is a remake of an Indian film that is so hypocritical!!
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Ahsan Gul Oct 14, 2016 09:11pm
I totally agree with Shaan. First movies are not the necessity over our country's loyalty and honor. Second, why these actors are adamant to work in Indian movies when India doesn't want them. Have our actors lost their self respect? Pakistan public should jump in to stop watching Indian and those with Pakistani actors movies. We have decent and educated artists.
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Usama Oct 14, 2016 09:45pm
We love you Shaan, You are true hero.
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karim Oct 14, 2016 10:29pm
Keep up the great work Shaan. Glad you're not sold out
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zahid Oct 14, 2016 10:34pm
Shaan is a better actor then 95% of bollowood actors. He is no need to go to bollywood.
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Safdar Jung Oct 14, 2016 11:02pm
Just look at all the movies of Mr.Shan with names like gujjar badmash , Kake da kharak ,Billoo badmash ,Gulloo shahpuriya and the obscenity in the name of dance s in them. He and his peers should be ashamed for bringing down the tastes of general public to the newest low.
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RIZ Oct 14, 2016 11:20pm
Cinema owners have to make brave decision to promote Pakistan movies you don't get success overnight but hard work always pays off. Private channels should make more movies as they have a platform to promote it and sure they do have money.
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Javed Oct 15, 2016 12:47am
Smell the Coffee. India is a HUGE market.
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MA Oct 15, 2016 01:24am
but its perfectly okay for him to remake an Indian movie for Pakistani audience. ....
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GREAT Oct 15, 2016 01:24am
Should have done it before as now there is no option.
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Khan Oct 15, 2016 01:52am
Respect
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kingatwill Oct 15, 2016 03:13am
every one complaining over shaan's gujjar movies must understand that he is only an actor and not a movie maker
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Pakistani Guy Oct 15, 2016 05:31am
@Awesome Lyrics "How many movies per year does Shaan make and generate jobs for locals?" More than any other Pakistani actor alive today!
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Sanjiv Soni Oct 15, 2016 07:00am
Yea tell Fawad khan an Mahira not to come India !!!
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Khwarezmi Oct 15, 2016 07:32am
Shaan has lived outside Pakistan and know how to value his country.
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Mubarak Oct 15, 2016 07:42am
An average actor trying to lecture on boundaries of art . The intellect of an actor matters as it reflects in their on screen performance. Pakistani film industry is not professional,clean or lucrative but the reasons for that is not India. We brag about our capabilities way more than others do and live on a different planet mentally . India will not be starved of entertainment if Fawad Khan or Atif Aslam don't perform there but Pakistan has no talent besides what is branded as export worthy . No one will watch Shaan in Pakistan let alone India.
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Omar Oct 15, 2016 08:23am
@Awesome Lyrics I guarantee you that it's more,far more than you YOU could ever do.
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MA Oct 15, 2016 11:11am
Yes sir, salute
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MA Oct 15, 2016 11:13am
@Umreekan_Sundi but his patriotism shine, which counts more then anything else
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MIRZA Oct 15, 2016 11:47am
what if he get chance to work in Hollywood? Arts have no boundaries.spread love not hate. don't act like Trump.
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Aqeel Phool Oct 15, 2016 12:45pm
@Umreekan_Sundi he was unfortunate that film makers were focusing on such films. And moreover, audience wasn't ready for new era of movies. Now that we have exposure to Bollywood and Hollywood movies in our cinemas. He is right, time has come to step up and strengthen our own industry.
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gogo Oct 15, 2016 01:40pm
With less than ten films in a year, Pakistan does not have a functioning film indisutry. It is even smaller than any state level in India.
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Awesome Lyrics Oct 15, 2016 03:52pm
@Omar It is like saying our textile industry should only make clothes for consumption in Pakistan ONLY. For one, if you want people (artists here) to stay back and make a living for themselves and their future generations, they need WORK. The products for movie artists would be films. If we make 10-12 movies per year which is way less than even a regional filmmaking industry in India, how do we sustain the talent and artists? Maybe YES, he makes more movies than ME, and so is that a benchmark?
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s kumar Oct 16, 2016 08:22am
for talented artistes there should be gradual progression otherwise it wil stagnate . They should try kollywood, bollywood and hollywood in that order. It is only due to such interactions the overall quality of films goes up .Proof is the kollywood-bollywood colloborations -now both are at par. Bollywood actors also do not shy away from any hollywood chances .. For an artiste the world is the stage.
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Proud Pakistani Oct 18, 2016 09:51pm
@MP Singh there are more than enough opportunities here in Pakistan first them but obviously is a much bigger market. The same as your artist going to Hollywood which means not enough opportunities for them in bollywood.
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Proud Pakistani Oct 18, 2016 09:57pm
@Tamil Nadu this is not Shans duty to send anyone or not. He is advising only.
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Rational Oct 19, 2016 01:46pm
To all those Pakistanis or even Indians who think that Business and Money stands above Values and Respect. Shame on you for being so materialistic. To all those who think that he did not contribute enough to a better industry and worked in gandasa movies(though i dont like them either). i am surprised by your ignorance about your own local film industry. I think you are so mesmerized by the Bolly Nach Gana Items that you failed to realize any thing positive locally in recent years. so please i urge you to dig your heads out of sand and try to see the light, it wont hurt to support your own products (even if they are not up to the par initially).
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