Dear India, Pakistani actors don’t need Bollywood to become stars

The following is a Pakistani’s response to calls from sections of the Indian population that artistes from the neighbouring country be barred from the Indian entertainment industry, particularly Bollywood. While such demands are made time and again, the killing of 18 Indian soldiers on Sept. 18 by alleged Pakistan-backed terrorists is what sparked the latest bout of aggression against Pakistani performers.It might not even be the best time for you since I see your fellows are caught up in a frenzy of misjudging the Pakistani markings regarding the ammunition used in the Uri attacks. But I write to you because it’s necessary. You might not have singled out Fawad Khan in your letterbut I evidently am addressing this to only you, since I do believe that many in your country still retain the basic sense and these are only your blatant misconceptions that I intend to discuss.

I don’t know whether it’s a tragedy or a comedy that you are intent on portraying Bollywood as a resort for all unemployed Pakistan artists. Heck, you make it sound like a charity that would have put the lateAbdul Sattar Edhi to shame.

Accordingly, it’s convenient to pinpoint a successful Fawad Khan (or your other options that include Mahira Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan or Adnan Sami—all of whom have been duly hailed by your country), but not a failed Veena Malik or a Meera; who ran out of work in Bollywood as soon as they started since they couldn’t impress your audiences.

That is the point exactly, Bollywood takes what sells. It isn’t doing any great service to the artists of my nation by hiring them out of pure sympathy. Just see the comments on the trailer of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil on YouTube, the people of your country are swooning over Fawad Khan so much that at places they even seem to overshadow the lead of the movie