Raees producer Farhan Akhtar says no to MNS' 5 crore demand

Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hia Mushkil made it to the box office this weekend, after Karan Johar appeased the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena by agreeing to pay Rs5 crore to the Army Welfare Fund as penance for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the film.

But fellow filmmaker Farhan Akhtar, whose upcoming film Raees stars Pakistani actor Mahira Khan, regrets that Karan caved to the pressure from MNS.

According to reports, Farhan has said that there's "no question of giving Rs. 5 crore to the Army" as they have refused to take the amount.

Elaborating further, Farhan said that most members of the film industry are "law-abiding tax payers" and put the onus on the state to take care of them.

Responding to his remark, MNS cine wing president Ameya Khopkar reportedly said, "Release nazdik aane do phir dekh lenge (Let the film's release come closer, we will look into it). By the way, where were these people when the decision of donating Rs 5 crores was taken? Suddenly everyone is waking up." He further questioned why the producers who readily pay Pakistani artistes have an issue donating money to the Indian Army.

Earlier, Farhan had said that Karan's 'donation' to the army "has "set a terrible precedent", especially since resistance to their films did not come from the government, but "the people who threaten with violence".