bollywood

Updated: Oct 10, 2016 12:05 IST

He has vehemently opposed a ban on actors and singers from Pakistan. However, looks like his heart is not exactly where his mouth is: Karan Johar is reportedly planning to replace the face of Fawad Khan with that of Saif Ali Khan in his upcoming film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. He may also change the onscreen nationalities of Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in the film.

In the wake of the terror attack in an army camp in Uri that killed 19 soldiers last month, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had asked Pakistani artistes to leave India in 48 hours. The Indian Motion Producers Pictures Association (IMPPA) also banned Pakistani artists and technicians in Indian cinema for such time till the situation between India and Pakistan improves.

The MNS has also threatened that it won’t allow the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees as the films star Pakistani actors Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, IMPPA has assured that films already completed will not be affected by the ban. Karan Johar, among a few others including Salman Khan, have strongly opposed the ban saying art and politics must not mixed.

A DNA report has claimed that the filmmakers have ‘toyed with the idea of using replacement technology to swap Fawad’s face with that of Saif Ali Khan’s. However, a source told the daily that it is too late for the replacement. The report also added that Karan Johar, who returns to direction after four years with Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, now plans to tweak the story in his film. Originally, the characters of Aishwarya and Anushka were Pakistani citizens. “What he (Karan) is planning to do is tweak the script a bit and work it in such a way that they are no longer Pakistani citizens, but belong to another country,” a source told DNA.

While Aishwarya plays poetess Saba Taliyar Khan in ADHM, Anushka essays the role of Alizeh - a girl who loses her love (Fawad) and finds herself in love again with another (Ranbir).

Hindustan Times could not independently verify the reports.

Ae Dil Hai Mushkil will hit the screens on October 28.

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