The Indian film industry, commonly known as Bollywood, has been a popular destination for actors from neighboring countries, including Pakistan.
Many Pakistani actors, actresses, and singers have worked in Bollywood over the years, and their contributions have been significant in shaping the Indian film industry.
However, the relationship between the two countries has not always been cordial, and there have been instances where Pakistani actors working in Bollywood have faced backlash and controversies. In this essay, I will discuss what happened to Pakistani actors working in Bollywood and the reasons behind it.
The presence of Pakistani actors in Bollywood can be traced back to the early years of the Indian film industry. Legendary Pakistani actor, Dilip Kumar, was one of the first actors from Pakistan to work in Bollywood and went on to become one of the biggest stars in Indian cinema.
Over the years, many other Pakistani actors, including Zeba Bakhtiar, Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Saba Qamar, have also made a mark in Bollywood.
However, the relationship between India and Pakistan has been strained for several decades, and this has affected the presence of Pakistani actors in Bollywood.
One of the earliest instances of Pakistani actors facing backlash in Bollywood was during the Kargil War in 1999 when the Indian government banned Pakistani artists from working in India.
The ban was lifted in 2004, and Pakistani actors started appearing in Bollywood movies again.
However, tensions between the two countries continued, and in 2016, the Uri attack in India led to a renewed backlash against Pakistani actors in Bollywood. The attack, which was carried out by militants from Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 19 Indian soldiers.
In the aftermath of the attack, several Indian political parties and organizations called for a ban on Pakistani artists working in Bollywood.
The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) also passed a resolution banning Pakistani actors and technicians from working in Indian films until normalcy was restored in Indo-Pak relations.
The ban on Pakistani actors in Bollywood was widely criticized by many in the film industry, who argued that art and culture should not be affected by political tensions.
However, the ban remained in place for several years, and many Pakistani actors who had already made a mark in Bollywood found it difficult to continue working in India.
One of the most high-profile cases of a Pakistani actor facing backlash in Bollywood was that of Fawad Khan.
Khan, who had gained popularity in India with his role in the TV series "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" and the movie "Khoobsurat," faced criticism in 2016 for not condemning the Uri attack.
He was later forced to leave India due to the ban on Pakistani artists.
Similarly, Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the movie "Raees," faced backlash in India for her alleged association with a Pakistani political leader.
The actress was criticized on social media, and there were calls for her to be replaced in the movie. However, the makers of the film stood by her, and the movie was released without any major disruptions.
Another Pakistani actress, Saba Qamar, who appeared in the movie "Hindi Medium" opposite Irrfan Khan, also faced criticism in India for her comments on the Hindi language.
Qamar had said in an interview that she found it difficult to speak Hindi fluently, which led to backlash from some quarters in India.
The ban on Pakistani actors in Bollywood was finally lifted in 2019, and since then, several Pakistani actors have appeared in Indian movies and web series.
However, the relationship between India and Pakistan remains fragile, and there is always a risk of tensions spilling over into the cultural sphere.
In conclusion, Pakistani actors have made significant contributions to the Indian film industry over the years, and their