Bollywood superstar Anupam Kher made headlines when it was announced he would be participating in Karachi’s Literature Festival, commencing on the 5th of February. Anupam Kher was among other notable Indians who were enlisted as speakers for the KLF event. However, Anupam Kher claimed Pakistani authorities had denied him visa and he was the only one who had to face such a predicament, while 17 others did not.
“Delay is the deadliest form of denial.”:)
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 2, 2016
According to a report in an Indian website, the Pakistani High Commission said his review was still under review.
Pakistani officials claim that the veteran actor had not even applied for a visa.
“He has not submitted a visa application. Please check from him if he has any receipt,” Pakistan High Commission spokesperson Manzoor Ali Memon told reporters.
“I am very sad and disappointed that out of 18 participants, 17 were given visa and I was denied,” he said.
Anupam was supposed to speak at a session on February 5th at the Karachi Literature Festival. Barkha Dutt, Nandita Das and ex-Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid were also confirmed speakers at the event.
Also read: Anupam Kher and Nandita Das among speakers to attend Karachi Literature Festival
Anupam Kher is a vocal support of the Indian political party BJP and has often issued statements which were seen as anti-Pakistan. A couple of months ago, while border tensions were still rampant between both nuclear-armed nations, Kher said there was no need to play cricket with Pakistan till Indian civilians were getting killed. He was also among the few Bollywood celebrities who had lashed at Aamir Khan, when the Pk actor said his wife suggested they leave India due to an increasing climate of hostility in the country.
