Pakistan and India’s relationship has been turbulent over the past two years. Initially, artists from both countries were wrapped up in politics with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees placing a ban on Pakistani artists and Pakistan’s subsequent Bollywood ban. However, some artists preached love not hate. One such artist is Akshay Kumar.
The Mission Mangal star refused to have his character badmouth Pakistan. The Bollywood star went as far as threatening to leave the film.
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According to the Hindustan Times, in his 2007 film, Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo the actor refused to degrade Pakistan. Akshay Kumar demanded that the political connotations were deleted from the script or he’d walk out.
The Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyo cast included Amitabh Bachchan and Bobby Deol.
He’s not the only one to stand up for Pakistan. Rocky star John Abraham had also reportedly made similar demands while filming Goal. One of the scenes in the movie with John and Arshad Warsi had John’s character indirectly badmouth Pakistan’s cricket team.
That’s when John backed out of saying the lines and asked the dialogues to be replaced with something that was not ‘hostile‘.
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After the FWICE ban on Pakistani artists, and Pakistan clapping back with a ban on Bollywood content, things have been rough between artists on both sides. In some instances, FWICE even sent notices to Indian artists working with Pakistani-American organizers that arranged concerts for stars like Diljit Dosanjh, Kumar Sanu, and Alka Yagnik.
Meanwhile, the body had Indian organizers cancel several concerts that they had booked with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. The body went as far as to ban Indian artists from working with Mika Singh.
