Film ‘Welcome To New York’ has been caught in a controversy over a song sung by Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, BJP MP and singer Babul Supriyo had stated that he didn’t see the need to patronise Pakistani singers at a time when relations between the two neighbours was at an all-time low. Rahat took to Twitter and wrote his response to the controversy, “In midst of so much being said all I can say is music has no boundaries and thank everyone for showing so much love for the songs which I am a part of......”
Vashu Bhagnani said, “I have always respected the soldiers. My intention was never to hurt any sentiments but after having spoken to Babulji I promise that we won’t work with Pakistani artists until the relationship between the two countries improves.”
Supriyo said, “I am not against any Pakistani artist. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Sahab is a very accomplished artist. But we believe that currently, given the kind of animosity between India and Pakistan with our soldiers being martyred, it is not appropriate for us to work with Pakistani artists and that is why I asked for the song to be banned.”
Supriyo had earlier said Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice in the song must be removed and dubbed by someone else as he was not able to comprehend the need or desire to cross the border for entertainment content at a time when tensions on the India-Pakistan border had escalated.
Supriyo said: “’Dil Diyan Gallan’ is a nice song. There is another nice song sung by Atif in Bajrangi Bhaijaan... My morals as an artist or sensibilities, I agree that artistes have no boundary. I definitely want to believe that and I do as an artiste but having said that where our soldiers are being brutally killed and their bodies are mutilated... If we can stop Pakistani players playing in IPL... At a time when we have cornered Pakistan, even US is one step away from declaring Pakistan a terrorist nation... maybe it would have been nice if Bollywood showed solidarity and took a stand.”
He further said, “(At that time) I had said that if a film worth Rs 100 crore is made and a lot of money has been put in by our producers that time, an Indian producer will suffer and not the Pakistani actor.”
‘Welcome To New York’ will hit the theatres on February 23, 2018. The film stars Sonakshi Sinha, Karan Johar, Diljit Dosanjh, Riteish Deshmukh, Boman Irani and Lara Dutta.
