Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, several Pakistani actors have been removed from Bollywood film posters on various music platforms. This includes Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane, who starred in films such as "Raees," "Kapoor & Sons," and "Sanam Teri Kasam," respectively. The decision to remove their images follows controversial anti-India comments made by the actors after India's Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor was a military strike conducted by Indian forces on terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the deadly Pahalgam attack on April 22, which resulted in 26 fatalities. The anti-India remarks made by Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane after this operation have led to their exclusion from promotional materials in India.
The removal of these actors from Bollywood film posters has sparked reactions across social media platforms. For instance, Mahira Khan has been removed from the thumbnail of the popular song "Zaalima," which has led to widespread commentary. One user reacted to the digital editing, noting, "The level of pettiness is insane".
Harshvardhan Rane, who starred alongside Mawra Hocane in "Sanam Teri Kasam," also reacted to her removal from the film's posters. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Rane responded to Hocane's removal by saying, "No, it's again common sense, I assume, weeding is being exercised". This comment references a prior incident where Hocane accused Rane of using his exit from "Sanam Teri Kasam 2" as a "PR strategy" amidst India-Pakistan tensions.
In addition to their removal from film posters, the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebrities have been banned in India. This includes Hania Aamir, Atif Aslam, Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, Sajal Aly, as well as Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane. When accessed from India, these accounts display a message stating "Account not available in India" due to compliance with a legal request.
The removal of Pakistani actors from Indian film promotions and the restriction of their social media presence within India have garnered support from many social media users. This reflects the impact of political tensions on cultural exchanges between the two countries. The ongoing disputes between India and Pakistan have strained relations, leading to changes in how Pakistani artists are represented in Indian media.
The cover images of Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan's 'Khoobsurat' (2014), however, remain intact.