But, it was this emotional streak that landed him in a controversy, when recently, he objected to bringing back a non-Indian contestant Musarrat through a wild card entry instead of an Indian. And predictably so, he paid a heavy price for calling a spade a spade. But not anymore, he says in a no-holds-barred t��te-��-t��te...
Let me put it this way, why should I become areformer when no one minds being short changed by what is happening in theindustry today. I am not the kind of judge who���d accept Rs 10,000-Rs20,000 and sit on talent hunt shows that���re being dictated by shoddyscripts written to push up the TRPs. I gave up Rs 70 lakhs to fight for ourIndian contestants who are far more talented than the whole world put together.But I will not fight anymore. If contestants��� parents are not botheredabout their children���s future, which is being robbed by non-Indians, whoam I to stop them?
Hundred per cent. Just watch when the auditions happen, where kids stand in long lines for days hoping to get selected. But participants from
Pakistan are put on a flight and given direct entry into these shows, why? Kya khasiyat hai inme? Hindustan ke galli-galli mein Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan mil jayega, but unki koi kadar nahin.
Par ek Pakistan se aa gaya toh humne usse sar pe utha liya.
AatifAslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and hundred others are nothing compared to oursingers like Javed Ali, Soham, Bulli, Raja Hassan, but no one wants to give thema chance. They say I am biased if I reprimand Musarrat ��� becausehe���s a Pakistani, but they don���t mind if I shout at Raja Hassanbecause he is an Indian. What sort of hypocrisy isthis?
I have always said that our childrenshould be given first preference. But desh ki maryada ko dao pe lagana aaj kalfashion ho gaya hai. I don���t know why do we have such a complex when itcomes to shoving Pakistan back to where it belongs ��� the other side of theborder?
Yes, I have been fighting alone for seven-eightyears in this industry. But it���s a shame that as Indians we have such alow regard for our nationality when it comes to protecting our kids���welfare. So now, I too have decided not to make a hue and cry about it.
No other country will allow foreignersto work and earn so freely as we allow them here. They come here, earn crores,build assets, but does our government bother to check if they pay tax? Why arethe Advanis, Karats, Mulayams and Kalams, all quiet over this? If I want to makea living in the US or the UK I need a working permit, while in Pakistan we arenot even allowed to enter the country. Then why are we so large-hearted in theglamour and entertainment industry?