Sajid Khan, Riteish Deshmukh support ban on Pakistani actors

Mumbai: Filmmaker Sajid Khan and actor Riteish Deshmukh say for them the nation comes first and if the decision of banning Pakistani actors can help solve the issue of terrorism, they support it whole heartedly. Sajid said as a citizen of the country, one has to respect the nation first. "The truth is, we are at a state of war and we are proud Indians. We have to respect our nation first. Our nation comes first. So if Pakistani actors have to go back, they should go back. I am with my country, like any other Indian. That's all I have to say," Sajid told reporters here today. After the Uri attacks, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had demanded a ban on Pakistani artists working in the Indian film industry and had also objected to the release of films starring Pakistani actors in Bollywood. Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA) later came out with a resolution to ban all Pakistani artists and technicians till the relations between the two countries becomes normal. Riteish says he "salutes" India's response to Uri attack with surgical strikes and feels a nation should respond to attacks. "Whenever it is about the country, it is India first. There is no compromise. After Uri attack, whatever response our Army and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took, I support and salute (them) for such a great response. This is what should happen," he said. "When someone does something, you have to respond sometimes at the right way and this was the correct way to respond," he added. Riteish, 37, said every person has a right to express his or her opinion in the country but if the issue of terrorism can be solved by cutting off ties, he supports it. "If tomorrow, whatever relationships are there, whether India-Pakistan cricket match, films or trade, if they decide unilaterally that more pressure can be put by cutting them off, to solve this issue, that some result can be attained, we will support. We are citizens, we will follow." The duo were speaking at a media interaction event of their upcoming Zee TV chat show "Yaaron Ki Baraat". Many people had voiced their opinion that Pakistani actors working in Bollywood should condemn the Uri attack. On this, Riteish said, "I condemn the attack. I don't know worldwide who should condemn the attack and who shouldn't. I think about myself and my country."