The meeting was held after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers issued threats to director Karan Johar over his upcoming film starring stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. However, Bhatt refused to comment on the MNS threat and said, “They are our brothers. The idea is not to fight with our brothers.”
On Wednesday, 12 workers of Raj Thackeray's party were arrested for protesting at a cinema hall against the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. They have been sent to judicial custody till November 4. The arrests came a day after Johar released a video statement, vowing to not "engage with talent from the neighbouring country", given the current sentiments in India towards Pakistan. The filmmaker, however, had urged moviegoers to take into account the "blood, sweat and tears" more than 300 Indians had put into making the movie.
Amey Khopkar, the president of MNS's film wing, had told The Indian Express that they were "firm on our stand" and will not allow the release of the film.” The MNS had been opposing the film after 19 soldiers were killed after militants attacked an Indian Army base in Kashmir's Uri sector.
On October 14, the Cinema Owners and Exhibitors Association of India announced that it has asked its members not to screen movies featuring Pakistani, singers or musicians. The move came weeks after the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association banned Pakistani actors and technicians from working on projects in India.
Relations between India and Pakistan have been on a downward spiral since the Uri attack, after which the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes on terror launchpads along the Line of Control on September 29.
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