Following a recent escalation in Pakistan-India tensions, Indian music platforms have come under fire for removing Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hocane from the posters of Bollywood films featured on their apps. Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, this digital alteration has triggered widespread ridicule and criticism online.
These actors starred in hit Hindi films like Raees, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Kapoor & Sons, and Sanam Teri Kasam. Now, on apps like JioSaavn and Wynk, the updated thumbnails exclude them—Shah Rukh Khan stands alone on Raees, Ranbir Kapoor dominates Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, and Harshvardhan Rane is solo on Sanam Teri Kasam. Yet, the songs still include the actors’ appearances and voices.
Public Reactions: “Art Shouldn’t Be Political”
Social media users were quick to notice and criticize the move, calling it petty and politically driven. Many labeled it a “digital erasure” of artists once embraced by Bollywood.
“You can hide their faces, but not erase their roles,” one user noted.
Another added, “Fawad was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. You can’t edit that away.”
Others mocked the inconsistency: “If they’re so unwanted, why are their performances still making you money?”
Many pointed out the hypocrisy of removing their images while continuing to profit from their work. Mahira Khan’s fans called the removal of her Raees poster appearance “political pettiness,” while others sarcastically asked whether Bollywood would soon use AI to replace them entirely.
READ MORE: Telecom Sector Contributes PKR 84.2 Billion in Income Tax from July 2024 to March 2025
A Familiar Pattern
This incident is not isolated. After the 2016 Uri attack, Pakistani artists faced a blanket ban in India, and collaboration since then has been rare. Even older content is now being modified to downplay their contributions.
Still, fans continue to celebrate performances by Fawad and Mahira, whose roles in major Bollywood productions remain iconic.
Final Thoughts
In the digital age, such quiet censorship doesn’t go unnoticed. Ironically, the attempt to erase these actors from visual platforms has only reignited public affection and respect for their work. As one netizen summed it up:
“They came, they performed, they won hearts. No poster change can undo that.”
