Following the Indian Armed Forces' cross-border strikes under Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, several Pakistani celebrities have allegedly publicly denounced the military move. The operation, launched at midnight on May 7, reportedly targeted nine terrorist infrastructure sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
In the aftermath of the strikes, leading Pakistani actresses allegedly took to social media to voice their disapproval, calling India¡¯s actions unjust and aggressive. Mahira Khan reshared a tweet by writer Fatima Bhutto, expressing her dismay over the attack. While she refrained from naming India directly, her Instagram story described the strike as ¡°seriously cowardly¡± and prayed for her country's safety, asking for ¡°better sense to prevail.¡±
Actor Hania Aamir echoed similar sentiments. She posted a one-word reaction on her Instagram story, simply writing ¡°Cowardly,¡± and another alleged screenshot is making rounds in which Hania is saying, "I have a lot of anger..." making her stance on the matter unmistakably clear. Meanwhile, Mawra Hocane posted on X (formerly Twitter), denouncing the strikes and mourning the loss of civilian lives. She referred to the attack as ¡°cowardly¡± and expressed hope for peace, calling on divine protection for Pakistan.
?Their comments gained more attention as several Pakistani celebrities, including Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, Sajal Aly, and Ahad Raza Mir, found their Instagram accounts restricted in India. Users attempting to view these profiles in India were met with a message stating, ¡°Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.¡±
Operation Sindoor followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives. As per the Indian Ministry of Defence, the operation was a set of ¡°focused strikes¡± aimed at dismantling terror planning facilities across the border. While the Indian government clarified that no Pakistani military installations were targeted, the response from Pakistan included heavy shelling across areas near the Line of Control, particularly in the Poonch and Rajouri districts.
Adding to the tensions, the Indian government reportedly banned the release of Abir Gulaal, a Bollywood film featuring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, which was scheduled for release on May 9.
As political tensions rise, so do the voices of cultural icons, highlighting the increasingly blurred lines between cinema and conflict.