This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Salman Khan Should Go Work In Pakistan If He Loves Their Artistes So Much, Says Raj Thackeray

"I have seen his tubelight blinker many a time."
File photo of actor Salman Khan (R) with MNS chief Raj Thackeray.
India Today Group/Getty Images
File photo of actor Salman Khan (R) with MNS chief Raj Thackeray.

MUMBAI -- Stepping up his attack on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan for opposing the ban on Pakistani artistes in India, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday asked him to go and work there.

"Our soldiers don't have any personal animosity with Pakistani soldiers. The bullets our soldiers face are not filmy. Salman gets up after being hit by a bullet," Thackeray said, reacting to Khan's remarks, adding "I have seen his tubelight blinker many a time."

"The bullets Indian soldiers face are not filmy. Salman Khan gets up after being hit by a bullet in a movie."

"I am also an artiste and artistes don't fall from the sky. Pakistani artistes have refused to condemn Uri terror attack. Why should our artists speak up for them?," Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief told reporters here.

Thackeray said the 50-year-old actor should work in Pakistan if he has so much love for artistes of the neighbouring country.

"Artistes should know its always 'nation first'. Artistes are not inseparable from society. Is there a dearth of talent in our country?," he said, adding those supporting Pakistani artists will face opposition from his party.

Thackeray said he does not buy the argument that there is no justification in banning Pakistani artists since they are not terrorists.

"How does that concern me if the people are good. I am seeing only terrorists who come to kill our people," he said, adding film industry was only concerned about the business of their films.

Thackeray said what would happen if Indian soldiers keep aside their arms to hear a Ghulam Ali concert. "What will happen then. Are soldiers our servants? ...they are protecting us."

Interestingly, Thackeray is on good terms with Khan and is a regular visitor to the actor's home during the Ganpati festival.

Khan had on Friday said artistes from Pakistan should not be treated like terrorists and art and terrorism should not be mixed.

The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association has passed a resolution to ban Pakistani actors from the industry in the wake of the Uri attack, which left 19 soldiers dead.

The resolution came after Indian Army announced that seven terror launch pads were targeted across the LoC by special forces during a 'surgical strikes'.

Also On HuffPost:

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.