Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan targeted by Indian right wing group

Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan have been targeted by the Shiv Sena. The right-wing political party have vowed not to let the actors promote their upcoming films in Maharashtra.

Khan, who made his Bollywood debut with the 2014 film Khoobsurat, is working on a number of Hindi films, including Dharma Productions’ Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Mahira will make her Bollywood debut with Rahul Dholakia’s Raees, in which she stars alongside Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

“We have taken a stand not to allow any Pakistani actor, cricketer or performer to step on Maharashtra soil,” said Akshay Bardapurkar, general secretary of the Chitrapat Sena, the ‘film wing’ of the party.

The Shiv Sena prevented Pakistani singer Ghulam Ali from performing in Mumbai earlier this month.

“We are not really bothered about who is signing these Pakistanis in their film. Karan Johar, Farhan Akhtar, Shah Rukh Khan etc are responsible citizens and they should not cast Pakistanis in their film,” Bardapurkar added.

Raees, which also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, is slated for an Eid release in 2016.

Meanwhile, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, directed by Karan Johar, also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. The film is expected to release on Diwali next year.