Indian entertainment industry responds to Pakistani outrage

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Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Hrithik and father Rakesh Roshan and Suniel Shetty were, alongside Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal, among the first to comment on the Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attacks. After the whole imbroglio began on April 22, it was said that Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan were silent, but they were not so as they too voiced their thoughts on social media.

However, after India’s retaliatory ‘Operation Sindoor’, there is uncanny and inexplicable silence from the two as well as from Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan and even the Kapoors. Amitabh Bachchan was also listed here as silent, but a news report reveals a series of tweets on ‘X’ where the number count remains but there is no text! As per a report in Bombay Times, these blank tweets are Bachchan’s expression of grief, protest and statement. Apparently, he considers ‘X’ as his personal journal.

Actions taken by Indian individuals and organizations

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Online platforms, YouTube and media streaming platforms and intermediaries and television channels have removed Pakistani content after the advisory from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Zee’s Zee Zindagi has removed all such content.

Says composer Amaal Mallik about this, “Despite being disappointed with their military and political policies, we have liked and adored Pakistani artistes and welcomed them with open arms on numerous occasions. Yes, I understand that artistry transcends boundaries, but when it comes to our country, we must remain unified…Our nation comes first before any art or artistes.”

The first movement to come up was the stalling of the release of Bhool Chuk Maaf on May 9. In a release, producers Maddock Films, stated that in view of the situation and drills being planned, they will shift to an OTT release a week later. “Nation comes first,” they stated.

Kamal Haasan announced the rescheduling of the audio launch for his upcoming film, Thug Life. The actor’s statement too read: “Art can wait. India comes first.”

Shreya Ghoshal, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, Arijit Singh and Tarruk Raina have cancelled or postponed their concerts. Usha Uthup’s Mumbai concert, planned for May 10, has also been called off. Earlier, Salman Khan cancelled his UK tour, The Bollywood Big One (4^th to 5^th May), and the unveiling of Shah Rukh Khan’s and Kajol’s statue in the UK was also cancelled due to rising Indo-Pak tensions.

Karan Johar’s Abir Gulaal, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, has been postponed indefinitely, and all promotional material, including the trailer and songs, has been removed from digital platforms. Actress Rupali Ganguly of Anupama and Sarabhai Vs. Sarabhai reacted strongly to its lead Paki actor Fawad Khan calling Operation Sindoor “shameful”  by stating, “Your working in Indian films was also shameful for us.” (Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam, Meeraa—a Hindu name!—and Ali Zafar were among the artistes I have interviewed from Pakistan that had tons of attitude and cocky condescension and little else to recommend).

Vindicating my stand is the All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) that also condemned Mahira Khan’s and Fawad Khan’s remarks in response to India’s Operation Sindoor. The association has urged the Indian film industry to stop “blindly backing these artists in the name of art.”

In their statement issued on May 7, the AICWA criticized Pakistani actors for their response to India’s successful Operation Sindoor. The announcement was posted on their X handle. The announcement was posted on their X handle. The statement read, “The statements are not just disrespectful to our nation but also an insult to the countless innocent lives lost due to terrorism and the brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our country. AICWA reaffirms its strict and complete ban on Pakistani artists, filmmakers, and financiers working in India. No Indian artiste will collaborate with any Pakistani talent, nor will any global platform be shared with them.”

Several other movie and TV actors across the nation have slammed both the Pakistani artistes as well as Indian celebrities “specially Bollywood and cricketers over how they simp over Pakistani artistes and cricketers see how they are defending Pakistan instead of calling out their terrorist supporter Army.”

Other Pakistani artistes in Indian Cinema

Mohammed Ali, Zeb, Ghulam Ali, Mehdi Hasan, Abida Parveen, Reshma, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Jal—The Band, Strings and Fuzon (both bands), Ali Azmat, Mustafa Zahid, Rafaqat Ali Khan, Shafqat Ali Khan, Saba Qamar, Imran Abbas, Sajal Ali, Mawra Hocane and others.

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