Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar while talking in a panel at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia defended his anti-Pakistan films with remarks ‘It is just a movie”.
He responded to the comment and question when Pakistani fan asked. “I have a request as you’re doing fantastic movies [such as] Pad Man and Toilet, all these movies that are bringing knowledge to people [and] solving daily routine issues,” adding that, “There’s an issue between India and Pakistan as well, when there’s a cricket match happening, it seems like there’s a war somewhere happening.”
“So why don’t you, instead of making a movie [such as] your recent movie, Bell Bottom, that has certain things against Pakistan, why can’t we just, the both countries they’ve separated but they’re not able to-”
Akshay Kumar was quick to respond with, “Sir, it’s just a movie. Don’t get so serious about it, it’s just a movie.”
But surely that was not the case when you made hatred and propaganda-filled content, it was not just the movie, it was more than that. The power of cinemas and media to manipulate the local audience against the Pakistan was not just a film, as Aksay said and tried to defend his B-town movies.