Sidharth Malhotra has come out in support of his co-star Fawad Khan, in the face of Shiv Sena seeking a ban on Pakistani artists performing in Maharashtra.

The 30-year-old "Hasee Toh Phasee" actor is working with Fawad in "Kapoor & Sons", which also stars Alia Bhatt.

"Everybody has the freedom to work. He has been working with us for a while now. I believe creativity crosses border," Sidharth told reporters in Mumbai at the opening ceremony of the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai International Film Festival. Recently, Shiv Sena had said that it would not allow any Pakistani actor, cricketer or performer to step on Maharashtra's soil. Seeking a ban, the party targeted Pakistani actors like Fawad and Mahira Khan, who are trying to gain a foothold in the Hindi film industry.

Meanwhile, Sidharth praised his rumoured girlfriend Alia's latest on-screen outing "Shaandaar", despite the film largely getting negative reviews.


"I saw 'Shaandaar' and I loved it. It's a great film."

The Vikas Bahl-directed romantic-comedy also starred Shahid Kapoor and father Pankaj Kapur.