Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt starrer Dear Zindagi is one of the most awaited films, this time of the year. Mostly because it features SRK as a hot older gut to Alia's lost-in-the-woods act The story is interesting as it four other young actors who woo Alia and SRK helps her to choose The One.
The teasers generated huge interest. But the ban on Pakistani artists was like a dark cloud hanging over the film's fate as Ali Zafar stars in it. While Karan Johar shelled out Rs 5 Crore to Army Relief Fund to release his film peacefully, DZ director Gauri Shinde decided to replace Ali . A source informs, "Ali Zafar has already been replaced in the film and he has been replaced with Tahir Bhasin, Rani Mukerji's nemesis from Mardaani. "
A source from the set confirms, "Yesterday, a dance shoot was underway of the film with Alia Bhatt and Tahir. It's an Arijit Singh number" But the point is, Ali Zafar is paying the price of this ban on Pakistani artists.
Earlier it was informed that the Bollywood debut of Zafar's brother Daniel is also on hold. Ali's goodlooking younger brother Danyal was to mark his Bollywood debut with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions film.
However, the ongoing political tension between India and Pakistan following the Uri attacks and the subsequent ban on Pakistani actors by the MNS has derailed not just his debut project, but also the film. The lead pair of this film were Fawad Khan and Katrina Kaif. Now with Karan himself deciding to not engage talent from across the border, his debut in B-Town looks doubtful.
And now even Ali Zafar will feel the pinch. We wonder how long will this impasse continue.
(Originally published on BollywoodLife.com)
