Raveena Tandon on Pak artists ban: It's a petty topic in comparison to terrorism
Raveena Tandon has slammed the ban on Pak artists, saying that it's a petty topic in comparison to the huge problem of terrorism.
The entire nation is facing the heat with the ongoing tension between India and its neighbouring country after Uri attack in Jammu and Kashmir and the subsequent surgical strike by the Indian Army on Pakistan. Amid all this, the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) has threatened to stall the release of films featuring Pakistani actors, and has banned Pakistani artists from working in India.
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After many actors sharing their views on the ongoing ban and the tension between Pakistan and India, now National Award-winning actor Raveena Tandon has spoken her heart out about the entire issue.
Speaking to India Today, the Daman actor said that the multiple attacks on Indian soldiers at the border areas was a grave concern and talking about Pakistani artists or a ban on films was just a petty topic in front of a huge problem that existed in the name of terror and dying jawans. The actor added that the sentiment across the nation was that of immense anger. At times like this, she said, it was the duty of one and all to stand by the Government's decision and the Indian Army.
At the same time, she slammed the threats made by MNS to filmmakers like Karan Johar for casting Fawad Khan in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Raveena said that it was completely wrong to issue threats to fellow artists; after all, nothing could be achieved in beating each other up. In fact, she said, the time had come for us Indians to stand united and fight terror.
When asked if artists were made scapegoats and were targeted unnecessarily at times when the governments of two countries were at loggerheads with each other, Raveena did not bat an eyelid to say that actors were indeed ambassadors of their country and they were responsible for setting moral standards. She said that actors had the power to influence given the number of followers they had, so it is imperative for them to set an example.
When prodded if this was a price they had to pay for being popular, the Mohra actor vehemently rejected the statement and said, "It is not a price that I'm paying for being popular. I will gladly do it. I will gladly be morally responsible for my country. There are no two ways about it."