Did not “ask PM Modi to apologise”: Anurag Kashyap

New Delhi: Faced with a backlash on twitter and attack from members of the ruling party and the government over his tweet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap today clarified that he “did not ask the PM to apologise” but asserted that it was the responsibility of the government to protect filmmakers facing a ban on their ‘duly certified’ films from political parties. "NO, Anurag Kashyap did not “ask the PM to apologise”( which most of the headlines would want you to believe, no one has their mind anyways). I merely questioned the fairness in judgement of a situation: the PM visited Pakistan for talks at the same time that a filmmaker was working with a Pakistani actor.

Neither was aware of future events or mood. Yet only one pays the price,’’Anurag said in a post on Facebook. Noting that the government did not cry “BAN" or demand that Pakistani artists be sent back, the filmmaker said it was the responsibility of the government in power to protect filmmakers facing a ban on their films from political parties. "I’m also well aware that the government did not cry “BAN" or demand that Pakistani artistes be sent back. Just as I’m aware that the PM himself doesn’t censor my films. But we elected them and so it is their responsibility to protect us from bullies - media or political parties. "And when the governing party's designated members don't respond in hours of crisis because they are second guessing the mood of the PM then I would rather talk straight to the PM himself,’’ the filmmaker said.

Anurag said it was unfortunate that he had to explain his intention behind his tweet, because others and his industry colleagues had to suffer for him having an opinion. Describing the film industry as being soft targets, Anurag said people from the industry became scapegoats to distract people you from the real news. "It's unfortunate that I have to explain my intention behind my tweet, because others and my industry colleagues have to suffer for me having an opinion. I am tired of the film industry being soft targets.

We are damned if we do, damned if we don’t! When we don’t involve ourselves, they ask “why is Bollywood quiet now?” When we involve ourselves, we become the scapegoats to distract you from the real news. Either way they use us to sensationalise news. Still, I’d rather put my opinions out there on my own platform, then give the media a bite,’’Anurag said. Anurag had come in for a lot of flak on Twitter when, in response to the decision by the exhibitors associations not to screen Bollywood films featuring Pakistani actors in four states, he tweeted to say whether the PM would apologise for his Lahore trip. (UNI)