'Sanam Teri Kasam' Makers Remove Mawra Hocane Following Her Criticism of India

Tensions between India and Pakistan following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians, have reverberated beyond the borders and into the entertainment industry.

In retaliation to the attack, the Indian government launched a strategic offensive, codenamed Operation Sindoor, on May 7 at approximately 1:30 AM. The operation targeted nine terror bases within Pakistan. Following the strike, India took further steps, including deleting the social media accounts of several Pakistani artists.

Amid the rising tensions, Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane—best known for her role in the Bollywood film Sanam Teri Kasam—posted a tweet condemning India’s actions. In her statement, she referred to India as “cowardly” and accused it of hurting the sentiments of the Pakistani people. Her comments drew widespread criticism on Indian social media, with many expressing outrage over her stance.

Lead actor Harshvardhan Rane, who starred alongside Mawra in Sanam Teri Kasam, responded strongly. In a public post, Rane stated, “I respect all artists, but I will not tolerate derogatory comments against my country. If Mawra is cast in any part of Sanam Teri Kasam 2, I will not be a part of the film.”

Following the backlash and in light of the current geopolitical climate, directors and producers of Sanam Teri Kasam, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, issued a statement affirming their support for the Indian government’s actions. They announced that neither Mawra Hocane nor any other Pakistani actors would be cast in the sequel.

"We fully support the stance of the Government of India. Not a single rupee or minute of our time as a nation should be spent on individuals who do not respect our country. No Indian platform should be associated with them. The most important thing is the welfare of our nation and our people. Nation first, always," read the statement.

The controversy underscores the growing divide between the two nations and highlights how cross-border tensions are increasingly affecting cultural collaborations, especially in cinema.