Telugu actress Lakshmi Manchu recently reacted to the ban on Pakistani artists in India amid strained India-Pakistan relations. With Pakistani stars' Instagram accounts also being restricted in India, Lakshmi appealed for unity between the two countries, questioning the absence of India's warmth and asking how actors could possibly be a threat to the nation.
Lakshmi Manchu reacts to ban on Pak actors
Lakshmi told Hindustan Times, "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."
Urges for unity between Pakistan and India
She added, "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?"
The actress stated that instead of following a divide-and-rule policy, people should focus on finding common ground and uniting to fight the common enemy.
Lakshmi said she feels hurt when it comes to artists, as everyone is just doing films, whereas entertainers are meant to hold a mirror to society and reflect what is truly going on.
"We are given the freedom of fiction. Then one says, ‘You can't.’ It's really hard for me to digest," she concluded.
Diljit Dosanjh's Sardaar Ji 3 controversy
Meanwhile, Diljit Dosanjh is currently facing backlash after he dropped the trailer of his upcoming film, Sardaar Ji 3, starring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir amid Indo-Pak tensions.
Diljit's reaction on Hania Aamir starring in Sardaar Ji 3
While Diljit is yet to react to the boycott calls, he said in an interview with BBC that Sardaar Ji 3 was shot with Hania before the Pahalgam attack in April. He also mentioned that the producers cannot afford to lose the money that has been invested in the film.
Sardaar Ji 3 will not be released in India due to ongoing tensions between the two countries and will instead premiere overseas.
