Karan Johar has not fulfilled the terms of his ‘deal’ with the MNS. The director agreed to donate to the Army Fund earlier this year, as ‘penance’ for casting Fawad Khan in his Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
A Deccan Chronicle report says that despite the film grossing Rs 200 Crores, Johar has not yet made the donation. A spokesperson for the Indian Army, Colonel Rohan Anand said, “We checked the balance in the account on November 1 and have not received an amount of Rs 5 crore from anyone in the fund.”
MNS general secretary Shalini Thackeray has said that the producers did not pay as the Army refused to be drawn into this matter.
“We did not want the money for ourselves. The Indian Army should come forward and clarify whether they have refused to accept the amount. We wanted them to donate the money to the fund so that it would help the families of the soldiers laying down their lives for us. But if they don’t want what can we do?” she said.
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At the time this deal was made, bans were imposed on Pakistani artists working in India, as a consequence of the fallout between the two countries over the Uri Attack. Many theatres and film associations sought a ban on Karan Johar’s film because it had Fawad Khan, a Pakistani actor, in an important role.
Following this, it is alleged that many of the actor’s scenes in the Johar film were edited out.
Ae Dil Hai Mushkil released on October 28 to mixed reviews.