In a revival of its previous stance, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has issued a stern warning to Bollywood producers contemplating the inclusion of Pakistani singer Atif Aslam in their projects. MNS Cinema Wing President Ameya Khopkar emphasized the party's uncompromising position against Pakistani artists and cautioned against extending the proverbial red carpet to Atif Aslam for his purported "comeback" plans in Hindi cinema.
Khopkar, who previously objected to the release of the Pakistani film 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' in December 2022, asserted that the tolerance for Pakistani artists within the industry is nonexistent and stated, "It is unfortunate that we need to repeat ourselves, yet let me make it clear once again." The warning extended not only to Bollywood but also challenged industries across India, irrespective of language, to abstain from involving Pakistani artists in their projects.
Singling out popular singer Arijit Singh, who has reportedly expressed support for Atif Aslam, Khopkar maintained the MNS's unwavering stance. He emphasized that this position is not exclusive to Bollywood and urged industries of all languages in India to refrain from engaging Pakistani artists, issuing a caution against underestimating this resolve.
Current indications suggest that Atif Aslam is contemplating recording a romantic track for the upcoming Bollywood film 'Love Story of 90’s,' produced by Sangani Brothers Motion Pictures and featuring Adhyayan Suman and Divita Rai.
Atif Aslam, a 40-year-old Pakistani-born singer, lyricist, composer, and actor, boasts a repertoire of Bollywood songs recorded with acclaimed music directors for films like 'Baaghi 2,' 'Tiger Zinda Hai,' 'A Flying Jatt,' 'Race 2,' 'Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya,' 'Kismet Konnection,' 'Race,' 'Zeher,' and 'Kalyug,' among others.
(With Agency Inputs)
