IAAF calls for a boycott of Mahesh Bhatt, Colors for promoting porn. IAAF says Sunny Leone Go Back

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-By Jenifer R – MumbaiWire.in-If director-producer Mahesh Bhatt wanted to have his eleven seconds of fame on national TV in the Bigg Boss house, he could have probably done it in a different way. Bhatt’s antics of visiting porn star Sunny Leone to offer a role in his film has not gone down too well with the Indian Artistes and Actors Forum (IAAF) who have called for a boycott of Mahesh Bhatt. And joining them in this boycott call are several prominent citizens from different walks of life including lawyers, politicians, fashion designers, actors and producers.

Some of the persons who have openly expressed their support for the IAAF’s campaign against porn star Sunny Leone are TV actress Smriti Irani, fashion designer and BJP spokesperson Shaina NC, veteran actress Poonam Dasgupta, fashion designer and stylist Umair Zafar and model Ameesha Yadav to name a few. Umair Zafar was quoted as saying that Bhatt has become a brand ambassador for a porn star while Ameesha Yadav said that Bhatt was speaking like her publicist and that he should clarify his position. Poonam Dasgupta said Bhatt has probably gone mad, while both Shaina NC and Smriti Irani severely criticized Tv channel Colors’ decision to rope in a porn star to boost the TRPs of their show Bigg Boss, Season 5. Earlier Member of Parliament Nilesh Rane had spoken out against Veena Malik ka Swayamvar and Congress MLA Krishna Hegde from Mumbai has also expressed his support for the IAAF’s anti-Sunny Leone campaign.

The IAAF is waiting for a response to their written complaint against the channel Colors sent to I&B Minister Ambika Soni on Monday. Soni meanwhile claims that she still hasn’t seen the complaint. Flynn Remedios, spokesperson for the IAAF says, “We have about 300 members from the film fraternity and it is the combined opinion of our members that Mahesh Bhatt has belittled Indian cinema and the Indian film industry by stooping so low. A senior producer-director going to the sets of a TV reality show to offer a role to a porn star is going a bit too far. If it’s a publicity stunt then Bhatt saab should have given it a serious thought. He is considered a ‘voice’ of the film industry and when a stalwart like Bhatt saab does something so flimsy it speaks for the industry itself.”

IAAF sources said that they will move the courts if there is no response within 48 hours from the I&B Ministry. “There are chances that Sunny Leone may be ‘evicted’ this week, we are waiting and watching and will take a decision on Sunday after the results of the eviction are announced,” said Flynn Remedios.

The IAAF has approached several senior politicians like former I&B minister and BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj and other Congress MPs for support on this issue. “Sunny Leone has no claim to fame. She has chosen her profession of her own free will solely for the quick income it provides.  She was not born in poverty nor was she forced into pornography. Why is she being glorified on national television? More and more kids are accessing her website sunnyleone dot com which is a hard core porn website because of the hype created around her by the channel Colors and Mahesh Bhatt’s antics. Both Mahesh Bhatt and Colors are indirectly promoting pornography and the dissemination of pornography in India which are criminal offences by publicizing porn star Sunny Leone,” said Remedios of the IAAF.

Source: Futuristic Media Network