Yeh rishta kya kehlata hai? The on-off dynamics of Pakistani celebs with India

From politics to cricket, the relationship between India and Pakistan has always been strained. But the one space where the people of the two countries have sometimes found a common ground is movies - they love Bollywood and we have warmly welcomed their artistes.

However, when tensions escalate between the two nations in the aftermath of terrorist attacks, like the recent Pahalgam attack, the bridge of movies quickly breaks down and things often turn sour. Fawad Khan

2014, around Bollywood debut: ‘Indian filmmaking is an education for me’Ahead of his Bollywood debut in Khoobsurat, Fawad openly embraced Bollywood, sharing childhood memories of “stealing” Indian films like Mr. India and Satte Pe Satta from video rental shops.

He viewed the chance to work in India as educational, “The amount of experience that India has in filmmaking, for me it’s an education,” he said.2016, post Uri: ‘Wish for a more peaceful world’After the 2016 Uri attack and subsequent ban on Pakistani artistes, Fawad avoided direct political commentary, instead making a general plea for peace. “As a father of two little children, I pray and wish like many others that together we can build and live in a more peaceful world.”

However, he didn’t condemn major terrorist attacks in Pulwama or Mumbai.2021: ‘I miss Bombay, it’s a beautiful city’In 2021-2022, he expressed nostalgia for India while maintaining political caution. “I miss Bombay. I think it’s a beautiful city,” he told a media outlet. Yet when asked about returning to Bollywood, he carefully deflected, “I can’t give a definitive answer until things stabilise.”Post-Pahalgam: Pro-PakistanWhile Fawad condemned the Pahalgam attack, he avoided saying anything against the Pakistan-backed terrorists.

His language became explicitly pro-Pakistan.Mahira Khan

Early 2010s: ‘Stole Indian magazines, was obsessed with Guru Dutt, DDLJ’In the early 2010s, Mahira Khan confessed, “As a child, I used to steal Indian film magazines,” revealing her passion for Bollywood legends like Guru Dutt, Meena Kumari, Madhubala and Rekha. She also said she was obsessed with Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and Shah Rukh Khan and expressed her wish to work in a Hindi film. Raees release and Uri aftermath (2016): ‘I felt attacked from both sides, India and Pakistan’Her love for Indian films culminated in working with Shah Rukh Khan in Raees (2016). But she couldn’t promote it following the ban on Pakistani actors in India in the aftermath of the Uri attack. “With India, it’s always political. But the fact that it would get this messy...That was a hard time for me. I felt attacked from both sides, India and Pakistan, and that was the time when my faith broke a little.

I developed severe anxiety and had a panic attack,” Mahira said during a podcast.2021-2022: ‘Artistes will always be scapegoats’In early 2021, Mahira wanted actors in the subcontinent to collaborate, but by the end of the year, her position hardened - she wasn’t interested in working in India unless it involved SRK. Yet she maintained friendships with Indian artistes, telling Variety in 2022 that Indian and Pakistani artistes “look out for each other” despite the tensions, and even meet when abroad.

The Humsafar actor blamed politics, not people, for the hostility.

“Unfortunately, it’s politics, it’s not a personal thing...artists will always be scapegoats.”Post-Pahalgam: ‘We need to focus on our industry’Following Operation Sindoor, Mahira’s tone changed completely. She condemned India’s actions. On being asked about working in India during an event in the US, she opined, “We need to focus on ourselves – on our own industry – right now.

We should concentrate on improving our own circumstances.” Hania Aamir

2025, PRE-PAHALGAM: ‘India & Pak are like distant cousins’Mere Humsafar actress Hania Aamir always admired Indian entertainment. An SRK fan, she is friends with rapper Badshah and enjoys Diljit Dosanjh’s music. In January, she said Indians and Pakistanis are “like distant cousins, similar in so many ways.” When asked about working in Bollywood, she said, “Why not!?”Post-Pahalgam: Diplomatic toneFollowing the Pahalgam attack, Hania struck a diplomatic tone, “The actions of extremists do not represent an entire nation or its people.”

Her tone became significantly pro-Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, The makers of her big Indian debut, Sardaarji 3, co-starring Diljit Dosanjh decided to skip the film’s theatrical release in India.Mawra Hocane

Ahead of Bollywood debut in 2016: ‘Bollywood jitna aapka hai, utna hi mera hai’In 2016, ahead of her Bollywood debut Sanam Teri Kasam, Mawra Hocane spoke warmly about India, describing it as an “experience” she will always cherish.

She emphasised her love for people over politics, saying she couldn’t “judge a country.” Expressing deep admiration for Bollywood, she said, “Bollywood jitna aapka hai, utna hi mera hai,” and noted how art and language connected both countries.She also appreciated the care shown to her by the film’s team. Her entry into Indian cinema, she said, was meant “to grow as an actor.”Even in 2023, during an India vs Pakistan Asia Cup match, she struck a hopeful and balanced tone.

She wished for a generation that treats sports purely as sports and encourages mutual appreciation between both sides, regardless of the outcome.Post-Pahalgam: War of words with Harshvardhan RaneHowever, in 2025, after Operation Sindoor, Mawra’s tone shifted sharply. She mourned the loss of lives in Pakistan. She also got into a verbal spat with her Sanam Teri Kasam co-actor Harshvardhan Rane after he refused to be a part of their film’s sequel Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if she was in it after she spoke against India.Saba Qamar

2015: Criticised Salman Khan, Hrithik RoshanIn 2015, actress Saba Qamar drew criticism for dismissing Hrithik Roshan as "the father of two kids", claiming she might get "oral cancer" from working with Emraan Hashmi, and calling herself an "A-list actress" in comparison to Ritesh Deshmukh. She even criticised Salman Khan's dancing, calling him "chhichhore".2017-22, Around Bollywood debut: ‘Never felt alien in India’By 2017, after starring in Hindi Medium opposite Irrfan, her tone changed dramatically.

She gushed about receiving “royal treatment” in India, staying in luxury hotels. “I never felt strange or alien in India.” She even praised India’s secularism compared to Pakistan’s religious conservative approach. By 2022, after being nominated for an award in India, she expressed hope to work again in Bollywood.Post-Pahalgam: ‘This is not about borders’Following the Pahalgam attack, Saba had an apoliticial reaction, “This is not about borders or nations.

This is about the pain... when innocent lives are taken.”Farhan Saeed

2012: ‘I love performing in India’During his early career as part of the band Jal, singer-actor Farhan Saeed enthusiastically embraced India. After a 2012 concert in Bhopal, he said, “I have always got immense love and adulation in India, and therefore I love performing here.” He praised Indian fans and the country’s music industry as “very advanced technologically” compared to Pakistan.Farhan frequently travelled to India for performances, claiming to have “been to places in India where even Indians have never gone.”2022: ‘Arts and sports shouldn’t be politicised’As tensions rose between the nations, Farhan maintained that “arts and sports shouldn’t be politicised.” However, in 2022, his tone shifted. When India’s cricket team refused to play in Pakistan, he criticised them and urged Pakistan to boycott the 2023 World Cup.Post-Pahalgam: Critical of Indian TV mediaFollowing the 2025 Pahalgam attack, Farhan criticised Indian media coverage, blaming them for aggravating tensions between the two countries. When social media accounts of Pakistani artistes were blocked, he took a jibe at the diplomatic fallout.