Anurag Kashyap prefers to talk straight to Modi

Mumbai, Oct 18: After filmmaker Anurag Kashyap tweeted at Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he asked the PM to apologise for his visit to Pakistan, he received a lot of flak on social media platforms. Today, on October 18, the Gangs of Wasseypur director, took to Twitter to voice his opinion, “NO, Anurag Kashyap did not ‘ask the PM to apologise'( which most of the headlines would want you to believe, no one has their mind anyways), I merely questioned the fairness in judgement of a situation.” He said that it is unfortunate that he has to explain his intentions towards his tweets. He said that he merely questioned the fact that why does only ‘one have to pay the price’. He said “The PM visited Pakistan for talks at the same time that a filmmaker was working with a Pakistani actor. Neither was aware of future events or mood.”

Saying that he is tired of the film industry being soft targets, Kashyap wrote, “We are damned if we do, damned if we don’t! When we don’t involve ourselves, they ask ‘why is Bollywood quiet now?’ When we involve ourselves, we become the scapegoats to distract you from the real news. Either way, they use us to sensationalise news.” Kashyap also said that he is aware that the PM did not ask for the ban on Pakistani actors, in the same way, he does not ban Kashyap’s films. Yet he said that, since the PM is elected, it is his responsibility to protect people from bullies like media and political parties. Kashyap said, “And when the governing party’s designated members don’t respond in hours of crisis because they are second guessing the mood of the PM then I would rather talk straight to the PM himself.”

Kashyap also explained his ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ tweet, saying that it was directed at the social media ‘trollers who constantly ask for proof of your patriotism’. He wrote, “Apparently that’s all it takes. It was a jibe at them. Patriotic slogans don’t absolve you from it all.” Earlier on October 16, Kashyap in a series of tweets expressed solidarity with filmmaker Karan Kohan, whose much-anticipated film, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil” was said to not be released by a small group of theatre-owners in four states citing reasons that it features Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. Kashyap had posted on Twitter, “@narendramodi Sir you haven’t yet said sorry for your trip to meet the Pakistani PM. It was dec 25th. Same time KJo was shooting ADHM? Why?……why is it that we have to face it while you can be silent??” He later tweeted, “Just to make it clear, I complain because I expect my government to protect us, I question the PM because I have every right to..”