KKN Gurugram Desk |  In a significant development reflecting the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistani actors have been removed from the promotional materials of several Bollywood films. This move comes in the wake of heightened political and cultural discord following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.

Background: Operation Sindoor and Its Cultural Repercussions

The Indian government’s response to the Pahalgam attack, dubbed “Operation Sindoor,” has extended beyond military measures to cultural domains. As part of this operation, Indian authorities have taken decisive steps to sever cultural ties with Pakistan, impacting the entertainment industry significantly.

Removal of Pakistani Actors from Film Posters

Streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music have edited album covers and film posters to exclude Pakistani actors. Notable changes include:

• “Sanam Teri Kasam” (2016): Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane has been removed from the album cover.

• “Raees” (2017): Mahira Khan’s image has been omitted from promotional materials.

• “Kapoor & Sons” (2016): Fawad Khan’s presence has been erased from the film’s posters.

These alterations signify a broader trend of excluding Pakistani talent from Indian media platforms.

Industry Reactions and Support for the Ban

The director duo of “Sanam Teri Kasam,” Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, have publicly supported the ban on Pakistani actors in the Indian film industry. Their stance aligns with the prevailing sentiments regarding cross-border collaborations in cinema.

Public Response and Social Media Reactions

The removal of Pakistani actors from film posters has elicited mixed reactions from the public. While some support the move as a patriotic gesture, others question the selective nature of the exclusions. Social media platforms have seen debates on whether Indian actors who have worked with Pakistani counterparts should also face similar consequences.

Government Directives and OTT Platform Compliance

In alignment with the government’s stance, OTT platforms have been instructed to remove content of Pakistani origin. This directive has led to the geo-blocking of digital content from Pakistani creators and the removal of Pakistani-origin content from major OTT platforms like Netflix and Prime Video.

Pakistani Artists’ Reactions

Several Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, and Mawra Hocane, have publicly condemned India’s Operation Sindoor, labeling it as aggressive and cowardly. Their responses, along with those of other celebrities like Fawad Khan and Atif Aslam, have led to their Instagram accounts being restricted in India due to legal compliance.

Impact on Upcoming Projects

The cultural crackdown has affected upcoming projects as well. Fawad Khan’s much-anticipated comeback film “Abir Gulaal” has been banned from Indian screens. Additionally, Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane has been removed from the film “Sanam Teri Kasam 2,” and Hania Aamir has been recast from “Sardaar Ji 3.”

Historical Context of Cultural Bans

This is not the first instance of cultural bans between the two nations. Following the Uri attack in 2016, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) passed a resolution banning Pakistani actors from the industry. Similar sentiments have resurfaced in the current scenario, reinforcing the cyclical nature of cultural tensions between India and Pakistan.

The removal of Pakistani actors from Bollywood film posters underscores the deepening cultural divide between India and Pakistan. As political tensions escalate, the entertainment industry finds itself at the crossroads of nationalism and artistic collaboration. The long-term implications of these actions remain to be seen, but they undoubtedly mark a significant shift in the cultural dynamics of the region.