In light of renewed political tensions between India and Pakistan, several Indian digital platforms have started removing Pakistani celebrities from music and film promotional material.
This includes poster edits, credit omissions, and even song removals—sparking outrage and disappointment among fans on both sides of the border.
One of the most notable examples is Fawad Khan, the Pakistani actor who played a lead role in the Bollywood hit Kapoor & Sons. His image has been removed from the poster of the song Budhu Sa Mann, and the song itself is no longer accessible on YouTube India. Interestingly, his appearance on the poster of his earlier Bollywood film Khoobsurat remains untouched, for now.
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Mahira Khan, another prominent Pakistani actress, has also faced erasure. The album cover for the film Raees—where she starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan—now features only Shah Rukh Khan, having been revised to exclude her image.
Mawra Hocane, who starred in the romantic Bollywood film Sanam Teri Kasam, has also been removed from promotional material on platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music. Reports also suggest that she has been dropped from consideration for the film’s upcoming sequel.
Even celebrated Pakistani singer Atif Aslam has not been spared. His name has been removed from the credits of songs he performed, triggering a wave of backlash across social media where fans are accusing Indian platforms of unjustified censorship.
This wave of digital deletion has reignited the long-standing debate over cultural censorship and the politicization of art. Critics argue that art and entertainment should serve as a bridge between nations, not as a pawn in political disputes.
Fans and peace advocates are voicing frustration, noting that cross-border collaborations once helped foster dialogue and mutual respect between Indian and Pakistani audiences.
“Art should unite us, not divide us. These actions are disappointing,” wrote a fan on X (formerly Twitter).
