Karan Johar is being bullied, says fellow filmmaker Zoya Akhtar

While Karan Johar has vowed not to work with Pakistani talent anymore, lots of people from the Bollywood fraternity are speaking up in support of collaborating with Pakistani artists.

As reported by Indian Express, at the 18th edition of Jio MAMI (Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image) Film Festival yesterday, filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and Zindagi Na Milay Gi Dobara actor Abhay Deol expressed their views on the ongoing controversy surrounding the release.

Condemning the move of putting a ban on actors from Pakistan, Akhtar said, “It is very unfortunate that a film and a filmmaker gets targeted like that. He didn’t do anything wrong, he has not broken the law. Visas are being granted by the government, it’s legal for people to work here. He shot the film at a time when the situation was pleasant."

“He is being bullied and it’s not fair because the government has put out a statement saying they will continue to give visas. So what’s the issue then? Why are we going against the government? Business is going on, cricket is going on. So why only the film industry has to face this? We have always been targeted."

Abhay on his part accused the government of being biased.

“If you want to ban anything to do with Pakistan then go the distance. Don’t just ban the filmmakers, ban imports, exports etc. When you do half a job, no one is going to take you seriously. I don’t take the government seriously. Right now, it’s not looking like you mean it, it just looks like it gets you a lot of publicity and makes noise."

Adding, “I will support if you think banning anything to do with Pakistan is going to help our jawans."

That being said, the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh recently promised a safe release of Bollywood films on Diwali. Here's hoping that this remains the case.