MNS threatens to "beat up" Karan Johar, Mahesh Bhatt

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) issued fresh threats on Monday to filmmakers Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt, saying that they would beat them up if they continue to work with Pakistani artists, reports Indian Express.

Also read: Shah Rukh Khan, Karan Johar face threat for casting Pakistani actors in their films

“We had appealed to film industry not to work with Pakistani artistes in the wake of the Uri attack. However, Bhatt and Johar have not given a positive response to our appeal,” head of MNS Chitrapat Sena, Amey Khopkar said.

While Karan Johar has come under fire for casting Fawad Khan in his upcoming production, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Mahesh Bhatt recently tweeted a picture in favour of peace that drew a lot of criticism.

“If they work with any Pakistani artiste, they should be prepared for a befitting response from us,” Khopkar added.

In response to the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India after the Uri attacks, MNS had given a 48-hour deadline to Pakistani artistes to 'leave' India and demanded that Fawad and Mahira Khan's scenes from upcoming films Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees be cut out.

“We have not received any written assurance from either Shah Rukh Khan or Karan Johar (assuring that Pakistani actors won’t be taken in their movies). Our agitation over banning Pakistani actors will go on. We will oppose their films. If these two films release, we will stall the release. Our workers are ready to go to jail. We will stall the films in our ‘style’,” Khopkar told a TV channel.

“If Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt even dare to make a film with Pakistani actors in the future, we will beat them up on the streets. We will also thrash Pakistani artistes,” he added.

Karan Johar has maintained silence on the threats, and Bhatt took to Twitter to announce his intention to do the same.