New Delhi: Backing Karan Johar over the release of his film ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal today expressed sadness that he (Karan) had to prove his patriotism. A day after Karan Johar made a video appeal to urge those protesting the release of his directorial venture because it has Pakistani actor Fawad Khan to allow it to be screened, Benegal said, “I feel very sad that he had to make a statement like that because how can anybody doubt his patriotism or his love for this country.’’
"Does it need to be reiterated everyday of his life or my life, because there is a demand on people to prove his patriotism? Why should one do that?’’ In his video appeal, Karan Johar said that he was proud of the Indian Army and respected the current sentiment in the country (against Pakistan actors) but urged those protesting films with Pakistani actors to allow release of his film as it involved the sweat and toil of hundreds of the members of its crew.
Supporting Karan Johar, Benegal said, "When you are born here, when you live here or make a livelihood here, you are going to live all your life in your country and you are not planning to leave or go anywhere else.You are an important and successful member of the society.
Why should a person like him have to constantly say that he will not do this? Why have we come to this situation?”.
In the video, Johar had said that he was hurt to be called an anti-national because “country comes first” for him.The MNS has threatened to stall the movie’s release on October 28 as it features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. (UNI)