Pakistani Stars Erased from Bollywood Posters Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
In a move reflecting heightened India-Pakistan tensions following Operation Sindoor, Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane have been removed from promotional posters of their Bollywood films on music streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music. The films affected include Raees, Kapoor & Sons, and Sanam Teri Kasam, where the actors previously starred alongside Indian counterparts. This action comes after the trio publicly criticized India’s military operation, a retaliatory strike targeting terror bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
The removal of these actors from digital artwork has sparked significant online discussion. Social media posts on X noted the absence of Mahira Khan from Raees’ Zaalima thumbnail and Fawad Khan from Kapoor & Sons’ Buddhu Sa Mann poster, with only Indian stars like Shah Rukh Khan and Alia Bhatt now featured. Similarly, Mawra Hocane’s image has been edited out of Sanam Teri Kasam’s promotional materials. However, the poster for Khoobsurat, starring Fawad Khan and Sonam Kapoor, remains unchanged as of May 13, 2025.
Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra’s co-star in Sanam Teri Kasam, commented on her removal, sarcastically noting that Mawra might attribute it to his PR team, adding, “No, it’s again common sense I assume, weeding is being exercised.” This follows a prior dispute where Mawra accused Rane of using his exit from Sanam Teri Kasam 2 as a publicity stunt.
The All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) has intensified the backlash, condemning the actors’ statements as “anti-India” and reinforcing a ban on Pakistani artists in the Indian entertainment industry. AICWA’s press release on May 7, 2025, specifically criticized Mahira Khan for calling India’s military response “cowardly” and Fawad Khan for allegedly supporting divisive narratives. The association urged Indian filmmakers and music companies to sever ties with Pakistani talent, citing national pride.
The controversy stems from Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, by the Indian Armed Forces to neutralize nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK. The operation was a direct response to the Pahalgam attack, described as the deadliest in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike. While Indian celebrities like Alia Bhatt and Akshay Kumar praised the military’s precision, Pakistani actors’ critical remarks triggered a swift reaction, including the blocking of their Instagram accounts in India.
This development underscores the broader impact of geopolitical tensions on cultural exchanges, with the Indian entertainment industry aligning with national sentiment by distancing itself from Pakistani artists. Netizens have largely supported the move, with some describing it as a bold statement against those who oppose India’s actions.