NEW DELHI – Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has rejected requests to promotehis latest song “Sehmi hai dhadkan” from the forthcoming Bollywood filmDaas Dev, says its producer Sanjeev Kumar. This comes as a reaction to thereports of India banning Pakistani Artists.

“Atif said he will do it, but it hasn’t been done. I’m not sure why heisn’t taking part in the activity, but, as a producer, I see that workpromised hasn’t been executed,” Kumar said in a statement.

“Sehmi hai dhadkan” was launched on February 22 as the first song fromSudhir Mishra’s film Daas Dev, a contemporary take on Sarat ChandraChattopadhyay’s novel Devdas.

Earlier this month, politician Babul Supriyo had asked for a ban onPakistani artistes working in the Hindi film industry. He had also objectedto the inclusion of Pakistan singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s voice in thefilm Welcome To New York.

Kumar said: “Normally, such statements are made by fringe groups. When aminister says it, it leaves an impact on more people. But we needed Atiffor this song. He has 20 million followers on social media. Imagine thekind of traction we would have got had he promoted it.”

“Daas Dev” stars Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari and Rahul Bhat. It isscheduled to hit the screens on March 23.