The fallout of the Uri attack has reportedly forced Karan Johar to alter the screenplay of his October 28 release Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. How can a romantic drama possibly damage the morale of the country as it ratchets up pressure on Pakistan for allegedly supporting cross-border terrorism? A movie can, one supposes, when it stars Pakistani heart-throb Fawad Khan.
The uproar against Pakistani actors and singers working in Hindi films has led to unconfirmed reports that the Ranbir Kapoor starrer is undergoing major rewrites and re-dubbing. Johar is allegedly changing the nationalities of the characters played by Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan – they will no longer be Pakistani. And what of Fawad Khan, who plays a small role in the film? One report suggested that he will be replaced by Saif Ali Khan. A short video by Sumit Purohit has a better solution, one that reflects the current mood of forced censorship brought on ultra-nationalism: let B-movie actor Gajendra Chauhan steps into Khan’s large shoes. The video, appropriately titled Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Film Banana, is begging to be developed into a longer spoof.