Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan on Tuesday refused to comment on the ongoing debate on whether Pakistani artists should be banned from working in the Mumbai film industry.
Khan will soon be seen alongside Hollywood actor Tom Hanks in Sony Pictures Entertainment’s film Inferno. The film, helmed by Ron Howard, releases in the UAE on October 13.
“This is not the platform to discuss the issue. I will give another interview to express my views on the matter but not here,” Khan said at the trailer launch of the film in New Delhi.
Vivek Krishnani, managing director, Sony Pictures Entertainment, India, jumped to the actor’s defence.
“This press meet has been called for Inferno. It is an important question, but this is not the right time or platform to address the issue,” he said.
The cross-border tension between India and Pakistan has spilled into the entertainment world, with Indian groups banning Pakistanis from working in the Hindi film industry, and some Pakistani theatres pulling Indian movies from their screens.
The calls for a ban on Pakistani talent in India kicked off in earnest after Hindu right-wing party Maharashtra Navnirman Sena issued an ultimatum to all Pakistani stars to leave the country or face trouble.
Actors Salman Khan and Om Puri came forward to support Pakistani talent, but faced a backlash for their opinions.
