Bollywood's Big B reportedly turned down an offer to play a Pakistani protagonist in Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty’s directorial debut and Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat is extremely disappointed.
Mehwish said that movies had the power to build bridges and that she was 'very disappointed' if reports of Bachchan turning down the role were true.
"If true, this is very disappointing. Movies have the power to build bridges especially when tensions are high. I guess that in the end nationalism trumps everything. I hope that we can also take heed before we gush about all things Bollywood in future," Mehwish said via her Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/MehwishHayat/status/1116316680895049728
Express Tribune reported that Pookutty had been discussing the project with Bachchan for two years and was excited to play the character initially.
A source close to the director told that the Big B was initially excited to play the role because it ought to spread the message of love and peace between the two countries, but Bachchan turned down the offer after growing political tensions between Pakistan and India.
The source told that Bachchan did not want to be labelled as 'anti-national' or have controversies stirred against him.
In February, All India Cine Workers Association has placed an umbrella ban on Pakistani actors and musicians from working in India. To this end, the association has also said that any person violating the ban will be punished.
The association earlier protested against and condemned Pulwama Attack – in which around 44 Indian soldiers were killed when a van rammed into a convoy of the officers in India Occupied Kashmir.The association also placed an umbrella ban on Pakistanis from working in the country.
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Mehwish said that movies had the power to build bridges and that she was 'very disappointed' if reports of Bachchan turning down the role were true.
"If true, this is very disappointing. Movies have the power to build bridges especially when tensions are high. I guess that in the end nationalism trumps everything. I hope that we can also take heed before we gush about all things Bollywood in future," Mehwish said via her Twitter account.
https://twitter.com/MehwishHayat/status/1116316680895049728
Express Tribune reported that Pookutty had been discussing the project with Bachchan for two years and was excited to play the character initially.
A source close to the director told that the Big B was initially excited to play the role because it ought to spread the message of love and peace between the two countries, but Bachchan turned down the offer after growing political tensions between Pakistan and India.
The source told that Bachchan did not want to be labelled as 'anti-national' or have controversies stirred against him.
In February, All India Cine Workers Association has placed an umbrella ban on Pakistani actors and musicians from working in India. To this end, the association has also said that any person violating the ban will be punished.
The association earlier protested against and condemned Pulwama Attack – in which around 44 Indian soldiers were killed when a van rammed into a convoy of the officers in India Occupied Kashmir.The association also placed an umbrella ban on Pakistanis from working in the country.
Have something to say about the story? Write in the comments section below