A wave of sorrow, anger, and condemnation has swept across Pakistan’s entertainment industry following India’s recent airstrikes on multiple Pakistani sites near the border. Dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’ by India, the strikes targeted six locations, including Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Muzaffarabad, and areas in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the unprovoked attacks resulted in at least 31 civilian deaths and 57 injuries, with many victims being women and children. Among the casualties were two three-year-old girls in Bahawalpur and victims of a strike on the Bilal Mosque near Muzaffarabad, where three people were killed.
The strikes followed the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), for which India blamed Pakistan — though, notably, without presenting concrete evidence. Despite this, Indian public figures and celebrities have widely praised the military action, framing it as part of a broader anti-terror operation.
This celebratory response from Bollywood figures has sparked outrage among Pakistani artists, who view it as a cold disregard for innocent civilian lives.
Pakistani Celebrities Speak Out
Mahira Khan condemned the strikes as “seriously cowardly” and reposted writer Fatima Bhutto’s sharp criticism of India’s assault. She prayed on Instagram, “May Allah protect our country, may better sense prevail. Ameen.”
Hania Aamir voiced her outrage, stating, “You don’t bomb innocent people and call it strategy,” directly rejecting India’s narrative.
Fawad Khan labeled the strikes “shameful,” expressing hope that reason and peace would ultimately triumph, ending his message with “Inshallah. Pakistan Zindabad.”
Other major figures joined the outcry:
- Hasan Raheem shared an emotional Instagram video, grieving over the death of a child and expressing heartbreak at Indian celebrations over the violence.
- Urwa Hocane called out Indian celebrities for rejoicing over civilian deaths, accusing Bollywood of poisoning Pakistan’s image globally.
- Hina Altaf urged Pakistanis to reconsider their consumption of Indian content, advocating for a cultural boycott in response to the insensitivity shown.
- Humayun Saeed underscored Pakistan’s right to defend itself, warning that India’s aggression risks destabilizing the entire region.
- Talha Anjum reposted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s condemnation of the attacks, urging people not to forget India’s actions.
- Mehwish Hayat stressed that while Pakistan desires peace, it will never bow to intimidation: “They may break our buildings, but they can never break our spirit.”
- Hina Khwaja Bayat emphasized that war only destroys lives, families, and futures, calling peace the only real answer.
- Sarah Khan connected the tragedy in Pakistan to broader global injustices, including the suffering in Gaza, Kashmir, and Palestine, asking, “How many more mothers must cry before the world listens?”
- Abdul Hannan condemned the lack of empathy across the border, describing the attacks as inhumane.
- Hadiqa Kiani renewed calls for an end to bloodshed, pleading for peace and praying for the victims.
- The band AUR encouraged followers to be conscious of the media they consume and its role in shaping narratives.
- Sehar Khan declared that India had crossed a line, warning, “You’re no longer our neighbor; you’re our enemy,” and promising a strong Pakistani response if attacks continue.
- Samar Jafri expressed disappointment that politics and propaganda have fueled hatred between the two nations.
Growing Calls for Cultural Boycott
In the aftermath, Pakistani celebrities and influencers are rallying behind a growing movement urging Pakistanis to boycott Indian films, music, and celebrity content. This sentiment is gaining momentum on social media, where fans and artists alike argue that promoting the work of those who celebrate Pakistan’s suffering is no longer tenable.
At the same time, India’s continued military actions and the celebration of these strikes by prominent Bollywood figures — including Akshay Kumar, Kangana Ranaut, Ajay Devgn, Kajol, Karan Johar, Sidharth Malhotra, and Sara Ali Khan — have only deepened the sense of outrage and betrayal among Pakistanis.
A Divided Region, A Plea for Peace
As tensions escalate, Pakistan’s entertainment figures emphasize that while they stand united in grief and resilience, their ultimate hope remains for peace — a peace they fear is slipping further away in a region already strained by historical wounds, political aggression, and cycles of retaliation.
“No one wins a war,” as Hina Khwaja Bayat poignantly reminded her followers — a message many across Pakistan hope the world, and particularly India, will soon understand.
