The Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India recently announced that Karan Johar's Ae Dil Hai Mushkil won’t be released in single screen theatres in some states, as it stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
Last evening, the controversy was fuelled further after Johar released a video stating that he would "not engage with talent" from Pakistan in the future, while pleading with the protesters to let his movie release smoothly.
Comedian Varun Grover had a bone to pick about this selective banning of Pakistani artists, and he explained why in a series of enlightening tweets:
So this year, due to drought last 2 yrs, Indian farmers could not grow enough Ajwain. The staple herb which sells at INR 70/kg went to 300.
Grover laid out how, despite the ban on artists, the Indian government is still importing ajwain (carom seeds) and Sendha namak (rock salt) from Pakistan.
So the govt lifted control on its import & we're getting it from a country next-door. A country whose films & artists we've decided to hate.
We already import Sendha Namak (Vrat waala namak for devout Hindus, healthy namak for devout urban organics) from the same country.
Grover implored all nationalists and patriots to boycott the two items, and stop the selective outrage over artists.
So please screenshot this & make a WhatsApp fwd for all true Indians. LET US BOYCOTT Ajwain & Sendha Namak. All of it is from Pakistan!
While the soldiers are dying, we ignorant fools are eating kuttu ki tikkiyaan with PAKISTANI namak (how gaddaar we are!) & Ajwain. STOP NOW!
During his rant, Grover said that he would get home and burn some ajwain in protest.
Traveling right now but as soon as i reach home, promise to brutally burn a pinch of Ajwain to show my support for India. Will share video.
And, sure enough, he lived up to his promise.
As promised. Hope other true Indians share proof of burning of Pakistani Ajwain in their homes. #GraphicContent
Grover's tweets were retweeted hundreds of times, both by people who understood the point he was trying to make, and by those who took them at face value.
"All I am doing is burning some ajwain to give an easy route for patriots to show their love for the country. Hope the internet is flooded with burning ajwain," Grover told BuzzFeed.
"I hated it already (it spoils samosas) but now I have something to gain from my hatred," Grover added.
