Ash, Anushka’s characters' 'nationality' changed in Ae Dil...?

Oh ho. What’s this gossip that we are hearing, eh? According to a popular entertainment portal, the actresses’ characters Alizeh (Anushka) and Saba Taliyar Khan (Aishwarya) were originally supposed to be Pakistani.

But due to the ongoing unrest between India and Pakistan, following the Uri attacks and Surgical Strike, their nationalities have allegedly been modified.

This apparently came to light from an unusual source. Yes, through Manish Malhotra, who’s designed the lust-worthy clothes of the leads in this Karan Johar romance drama.

The site further added that during an earlier interaction with a daily, Manish had described the characters as Pakistanis.

He had said, “Ae Dil Hai Mushkil is going to be that film where the characters – Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Fawad Khan are all dressed as people abroad but who are making a statement. Especially, in Anushka’s and Aishwarya’s case, it’s high street fashion mixed with labels. Both play Pakistani girls and their style has a mix of the cultures. ADHM is a film close to my heart. ”

However, during another chat with a daily recently, he said, “Anushka plays a Muslim girl from Lucknow in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. We have blended traditional and modern details throughout the movie. For her bridal look, we kept in mind the cultural direction of what a modern Muslim girl would opt for.”

Well,well,well…looks like the sudden change is due to immense political pressure, especially from MNS that had threatened to ban the movie as it has Pakistani heartthrob Fawad Khan in a pivotal role.

Written and directed by Karan Johar, the movie stars Ranbir Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan, and Anushka Sharma in the lead. It also has Fawad Khan, Deepti Naval, Lisa Haydon, Imran Abbas (guest appearance), and Shah Rukh Khan (guest appearance) in important roles.

It’s slated to release on October 28.