After all Pakistani Actors were banned in India, the release of Karan Johar's upcoming movie "Ae Dil Hai Mushkil" has been facing a lot of issues.

In an emotional video statement, Karan Johar pledged that " My country comes first. Not engage talent from the neighboring country."

He also confronted all calls he has been getting from a section to block the film. The movie stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, Anushka Sharma, Ranbir Kapoor and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the main leads. He said that "...I beseech you to know one thing...that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and I don't think it's fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians."

The 44-year-old said "had been silent because of a deep sense of hurt and pain that people believed he was anti-national. When I shot my film in September-December last year, the climate was completely different, circumstances were different. There were efforts made by our government for peaceful relationships with the neighboring country and I respected those efforts then, and I respect the sentiment today...because I feel the same."

Many parties like Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) have threatened to vandalize all cinemas that will screen Mr. Johar's film if he does not drop Fawad Khan. After this, the producers of the movie requested Mumbai police to give protection and security for the movie release on October 28.

After getting many threatening calls, around 450 cinema owners has decided not to screen films which have Pakistani actors in order to respect public sentiment after the Uri attack in which 19 soldiers were killed by terrorists from Pakistan.

"I respect the Indian army, I salute the Indian army...I condemn any form of terrorism...I hope all of you understand the circumstance and situation we are in and respect the fact that we love and respect our country over and above anything else," said Mr. Johar.

Here's the transcript of Karan Johar's statement:

"There has been some talk of why remained silent for the past two weeks. Today I would like to clarify why I remained silent. It is because of a deep sense of hurt, deep sense of pain that I felt, that a few people would actually believe that I am being anti-national. I need to say this and I say this with the strength that for me my country comes first. Nothing else matters but my country. I always felt that the best way to express your patriotism is through love and that's all I always tried to do my work, and my cinema."

"When I shot my film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil - in September to December last year - the climate was completely different, the circumstances were completely different. There were efforts made by our country for peaceful relationships with the neighboring countries and I respect those efforts then, those endeavors then, and I respect the sentiment today. I understand the sentiment because I feel the same. Going forward I would like to say of course I will not engage talent from neighboring country given the circumstance."

"With that same energy I beseech you to know one thing that over 300 Indian people in my crew have put their blood, sweat and tears in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and I don't think it is fair to them to face any kind of turbulence on account of other fellow Indians. I respect the Indian Army, I salute the Indian Army for everything they do to protect us in our environment. I respect them with all my heart and I say I condemn any form of terrorism. Any form, especially the terrorism that would affect the people of my country and me. I hope all of you understand the circumstance and situation we are in and respect the fact we love and respect our country over and above anything else."

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Also Read: Ae Dil Hai Mushkil Updates

BY M. DIVYA SRI