Anurag Kashyap made a tweet and it made even more headlines than his films. The tweet aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the wake of recent attacks by terrorists from Pakistan, did not go unnoticed on social media.
Amidst controversy over the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, Anurag has asked the Prime Minister to apologise for his visit to Nawaz Sharif’s house last year. Anurag’s argument: If the PM can visit Pakistan, then why should there be a restriction on Pakistani actors’ participation in Indian films.
Anurag’s statement against the PM invited severe criticism from several quarters, including the Bollywood. Anurag spoke in favour of Pakistani artistes to show his support for the release of Karan Johar’s ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’, which is in limbo because of the presence of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in it.
@narendramodi Sir you haven’t yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM.. It was dec 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHM? Why?
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
The World must learn from us.. We solve all our problems by blaming it on movies and banning it.. #ADHM . With you on this @karanjohar
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 15, 2016
Just to make it clear, I complain because I expect my government to protect us, I question the PM because I have every right to..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
He expressed his disappointment with the BJP as he felt the party is acting “redundant” by blaming the film industry for wrong reasons.
I am not going to address a party that has become redundant and irrelevant and is trying to find relevance again by using the film industry
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
We have been vulnerable for long, and have been paying the price by being used by every one to find any kind of standing..
— Anurag Kashyap (@anuragkashyap72) October 16, 2016
And now to answer back Kashyap’s questions, BJP leader and Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan has come forward. Pradhan tagged Anurag in a tweet saying if the friendship agenda between the two nations failed, that doesn’t mean the Bollywood director should blame the PM.
Every citizen including @anuragkashyap72 has right to question the Govt. But is it right to blame the priest for failure of one’s marriage?
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 17, 2016
Stars of Bollywood must understand that people of India look upto them & so they must be careful & responsible with their words & actions.
— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) October 17, 2016
Pradhan added that celebrities should be watchful of what they say as people look up to them. But despite all, Kashyap remained stuck to his point with a series of tweets and retweets saying anyone who questions his love for the country by shouting , must prove their love by representing the country either on the border or prove their love by representing the country in an “honourable” way.
But then Anurag hasn’t yet replied to Pradhan’s question. Can he?