Mumbai: Amid fresh calls for banning Pakistani artists in India, actress Lakshmi Manchu opined that art shouldn’t be politicised.
Lakshmi said that instead of adopting the divide-and-rule policy, both countries must come together to fight against the common enemy.
“Don’t politicise art. Go after the people who are causing the trouble. You can’t just throw a blanket ban on everybody and say no (you can’t work with them). Where is our growth? Where is our warmth? As Indians, we welcomed all these people with open hearts,” she said.
“Where are our hearts now? Politics is one way, but why cattle herding and blanketing? Why are they going after an actor? What threat are they to India, and banning their Instagram? Like how insecure are you? Rather than a divide and rule policy, we need to find ways around how we can find a common ground and fight together against the common enemy,” Lakshmi added.
“I do feel hurt that when it comes to artists. We are doing films. We are entertainers. We are supposed to put a mirror out to society about what is going on. We are given the freedom of fiction. Then one says ‘you can’t’. It’s really hard for me to digest,” expressed Laksmi, who was recently seen in ‘The Traitors’.
“You can choose that route if that gives you solace. But only a pained and unhealed man will talk like that…How long are we going to keep fighting? We’re all here together. We’re all one way….We need to find more humanity and more love towards each other,” said the the actor who feels people are driven by hate at the moment.
Recently, Punjabi actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh was called out for collaborating with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in ‘Sardaar Ji 3.’
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) demanded a ban on Diljit’s future projects, while urging PM Modi to take a strict action against the actor.
The body even wrote to the ‘Border 2’ makers, expressing their disappointment over casting of Diljit in the film.
Earlier this year, Vaani Kapoor stirred a controversy after sharing screen space with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in ‘Abir Gulaal.’
Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
In response, the Indian Armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor to wipe out terrorist hubs in Pakistan. It was followed by a four-day military conflict between the two neighbours.
