Karan is being unnecessarily harassed for casting Pakistani actor; 50 crores at stake, says Shyam Benegal

Filmmaker Shyam Benegal is disappointed to see that director Karan Johar is being needlessly harassed for casting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil". Benegal wants the government to step in to protect the film industry which is particularly helpless.

"I am very saddened by what he had to say because the poor chap (Karan) is being unnecessarily harassed in a way because after all, over Rs.50 crore is at stake. What do you expect him to say?," Benegal said a close source. 

"Film industry is particularly vulnerable. They (film fraternity) need to be protected from people who will threaten them or attack them. We cannot avoid these things. Government has to protect us against these kind of attacks," further added Benegal mentioning to several political outfits' threats to multiplexes who will screen Ae Dil Hai Mushkil soon.

The filmmaker, who heads the government-appointed revamp panel of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), conveyed his views after the latest turn of events when Karan broke his silence about the upcoming movie, which will release on October 28, two days before Diwali. 

In a two-minute long video, Karan told that he is hurt on being labelled "anti-national" ahead of the release of his directorial and production endeavor Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and told he would not engage with talent from Pakistan "in the circumstance".

Benegal senses the "government should protect people like that. It is the duty of the government to protect people against the kind of threats that he (Karan) probably has received or is likely to receive".

Benegal emphasizes that no one is being unpatriotic. 

"Nobody has done anything unpatriotic. If you are born here, got education here, are working here, making your livelihood here and are voting every election, then why should you be constantly told to prove your credentials. What more credentials do you want?”

"If you are an Indian then you are an Indian and are proud to be an Indian. I don't have to say that every day and every morning from my terrace that 'I am an Indian, and I am proud Indian'," he told. 

What does he think about various groups demanding a ban on Pakistani talent working in India? 

The 81-year-old told "The fact is when the rapport between the neighbours was happy and okay, we were taking people from Pakistan. In fact, our actors and directors were also going to the other side." 

"It was stopped because of the skirmishes on the border. This is a temporary thing."