MNS asks Pakistani actors to go back

Mumbai, Sept. 23 (Agencies): The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Friday asked Pakistani artistes to leave India immediately, warning that it would stall shooting of their movies.

Actors like Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan are hijacking the opportunities of Indian artistes, Shalini Thackeray, wife of MNS chief Raj Thackeray, said in a press conference.

Shalini, who is the general secretary of MNS, told PTI that their Chitrapat wing has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to all the Pakistani actors to leave the country.

Fawad Khan stars in a supporting role in Dharma Production’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, scheduled for release next month, and Mahira Khan stars opposite Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Raees’.

However, Mumbai police said that the actors need not worry as they will be given protection.

“All foreign nationals who land in the country with valid documents issued by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra need not worry,” Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (law & order), Mumbai, told PTI.

Shalini said they would write to Pakistani actors to stop working here.

”We would also issue letters to the producers on what grounds they are hiring the Pakistani actors, when there are enough actors here struggling to find an opportunity,” she said.

To a query on what MNS would do if the Pakistani artistes don't leave, Shalini said, “Our workers would push them out... would not let them do their acting business.”

This is not the first time that Pakistani artistes have been threatened in Mumbai.

Last year, noted Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali had to cancel his performance in Mumbai after Shiv Sena threatened him.