Gautam Gambhir endorses banning of Pakistani artists

​New Delhi: Veteran Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir has put his weight behind the banning of Pakistani artists and performers in the wake of political parties opposing the release of a Bollywood film which features an actor from the neighbouring country after the Uri terrorist attacks.

"National interest to me is more important. Protection of our own people is important," Gambhir told India Today on Tuesday.

"There should not be any relation with Pakistan may it be cricket or Bollywood because the person who has lost his life, who has lost his son, if you ask them if they want to keep relation with Pakistan, you will get your answer," the southpaw, who played his first Test after a two-year hiatus against New Zealand in Indore, said.

Indirectly taking a dig at B-town actors who are criticising the attitude towards Fawad Khan, the Pakistani actor whose presence stirred a controversy involving the release of Karan Johar directed movie 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil', Gambhir said, "Sitting in AC rooms and working in different profession, you can easily say Bollywood or cricket should not be mixed with politics. But those who have lost their child, if you ask them they don't want to keep any relation with Pakistan."

"So I totally endorse the fact that till the cross border terrorism does not end with Pakistan, we should not keep any relation with them because the lives of our own people is important to us, the innocent ones who have lost their lives saving ours at the border," he added.

"Their interest is much more important rather than your movies and cricket ties. So I completely endorse the fact that we should not keep any relation with Pakistan."