Pooja Bhatt: Painful to watch Karan Johar proclaim his patriotism

Pooja Bhatt Karan Johar and Raj ThackerayI write this piece knowing that my voice is like a candle in the wind and will have no impact on those already converted to the thought that you speak of peace in these times you are automatically a traitor Yet my conscience does not permit me to stay silent when I see some of my brethren succumb to powers that be without even an attempt of a fightWhy such a meek soft stand I asked myself But on gathering facts I realised that no one can fight for someone who does not want to fight for themselves How do you coax someone out of an abusive relationship if they dont want to get out of itIt was the year 1999 when my film Zakhm was denied a censor certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification CBFC headed by our very own Asha Parekh I remember my father Mahesh Bhatt taking a clear stand when the CBFC wanted to tamper with the film We would release the film the way it was or set fire to the negativeMy uncle Mukesh Bhatt now president Film amp Television Producersrsquo Guild of India backed that decision Conviction does not need PR The result of that conviction was not only a clean release but a national award for Best Film on National Integration All this was possible because Zakhm was produced independently and not underwritten by corporate fundingCorporate funding gives you the illusion of grandeur But eventually it makes you weak and cautious It makes you too damn gentile It was painful to watch Karan Johar have to proclaim his patriotism over and over It was even more devastating to hear him say he will never work with artistes from the ldquoneighbouring countryrdquo again Irsquom not certain if those were his lines Or if he was merely mouthing the agenda of the mighty FOXEither way what is saddening is that through this entire debate the words lsquopatriotismrsquo and lsquoprofitrsquo have not only been used and misused but have drowned out the word lsquoartrsquoArt has no boundaries Artistes are beyond their nationalities That is my belief You may disagree That is your right As is mine to agree to disagree Why cant we see the obvious Trade continues without restrictions between India and Pakistan Yet there is a clampdown on all things Bollywood a curious case of soft power being used instead as soft targets I guess Karan Johar and Fawad Khan are more marketable targets than farmers who grow cotton and paan leavesThe theatre owners and exhibitors are terrified that their properties will be vandalised They will not trust the state to act on its promise of providing adequate security and ensuring a filmrsquos peaceful release Corporates will continue with their ongoing agendamdashof profit by any and all meansIn the meanwhile wild figures like lsquo5 crorersquo are thrown around as lsquosums to be donatedrsquo by filmmakers when at the meeting held between the chief minister the Film Producersrsquo Guild and the aggrieved filmmakers no figure was arrived at I repeat no promises were made The Producersrsquo Guild cannot and does not act on behalf of every producer in the film industry Hence their supposed acceptance of ldquonever working with Pakistani artistesrdquo has no standing until it is approved by each and every association mdash of which there are manyI have a case pending in the High Court where I have questioned the legitimacy and authority of these very bodies that fail to protect independent producers like myself When it comes to fighting copyright violation in my case with the title and film Thank You there is no assistance in sightItrsquos the same situation when one is hauled to court and has to fight a lonely battle for over a decade on an obscenity charge over a film poster for Rog even though the said poster has a lsquonoobjection certificatersquo from the concerned producersrsquo association and the Censor BoardSo Irsquom sorry is this Bollywood If it is then itrsquos not an industry I wish to inherit Is this Mumbai It definitely is And this is certainly not the Bombay I was born toPooja Bhatt is a Bollywood actor turned filmmakerThe views expressed are those of the writer Send your feedback to hitlistmiddaycom