New Delhi: Tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor have spilled over into the relationship between actor Harshvardhan Rane and his Pakistani co-star Mawra Hocane. The stars of the 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam have been taking potshots at each other on social media—the latest being Rane’s response to Hocane calling his decision to opt out of the sequel a “PR strategy”. Rane, on Sunday evening, immediately hit back, defending his decision.
“Fortunately, I have tolerance to overlook such attempts – but have zero tolerance for any attack on my nation’s dignity,” he wrote on Instagram Stories.
The actor used a metaphor to make his point.
“An Indian farmer would pluck out the unwanted weed from his crop. It’s called weeding, the farmer doesn’t need a PR team for this act, it’s called common sense,” he wrote. Rane added that he was well within his rights to choose not to work with individuals who label his country’s actions as ‘cowardly’.
Earlier on Saturday, Rane announced he would opt out of the Sanam Teri Kasam sequel if the same cast was brought on board. He did not name Hocane directly but alluded to her being the reason for his exit.
“While I am grateful for the experience, however, as things stand, and after reading the direct comments made about my country, I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam Part 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated,” the actor wrote on Instagram.
The popular Pakistani actor derided him for this comment.
“While our nations are at war, this is what you come up with? A PR statement to get attention? What a pity!” she wrote on her Instagram Story.
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‘Hate in her speech’
When India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, many Pakistani actors popular in India, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Mawra Hocane, expressed their anger on social media.
“Strongly condemn India’s cowardly attack on Pakistan… Innocent civilians have lost their lives. May Allah protect us all… may sense prevail,” Hocane wrote on Instagram on 8 May, after which her account was restricted in India. Her statement prompted directors Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao to react strongly too, expressing their disappointment at her condemnation of India and deciding to drop her from the project.
The characters, played by Hocane and Rane, had been popular despite the film’s poor box office performance in 2016. The romantic drama earned only Rs 8 crore at the box office. However, it redeemed itself in a re-release in February 2025, making Rs 56 crore. Fans also started asking for a sequel, which made the filmmakers announce a possible next film.
Rane did not take Hocane’s comments lightly and criticised her choice of words. “So much hate in her speech, so many personal remarks. I never mentioned her name or resorted to calling her names. Didn’t attack her dignity as a woman. I intend to maintain that standard,” he said on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), a non-governmental film workers’ body, has decided to bar Pakistani actors from acting in Bollywood in the future. The release of the upcoming film, Abir Gulal, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, has also been put on hold indefinitely.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
All I’ll say: if you see a snake and a paki … (You can complete the rest)
Hum caste sy bahir taluqat nhi rakhty ❌
Hum sarhad par taluqat nhi rakhty ✅
On a more serious note… Something we should be thinking about- looking at the comments here, each of us understands the threat posed by our neighbours, even the most innocent and harmless looking of them.
Where does this realisation vanish most of the time?
I hope op sindoor and the events around it that we’ve all lived through as a nation awaken us permanently to the fact that the only solution to Pakistan is to completely update the corrupted software.
As long as the “new Madinah” exists, the “Makkah” ruled by mushrikeen will never be safe. (Those who don’t know: study your Islamic history)
I’ll tell you a true story (names redacted, places changed).
Amar from Delhi had two friends – Sukhi from Lahore and Hira from AJK.
Over 5-10 years, Sukhi and Hira had grown close to the point that Amar was effectively mentally a Delhi-based Pakistani.
Then, the war broke out.
During the chaos, Amar’s heart went out to all the “civilians martyred” in Op Sindoor.
At the same time, Amar was deeply concerned for Sukhi and Hira, both too close to the conflict.
Neither wrote back.
Sukhi was too busy celebrating pookie days in Lahore like nothing’s happening.
Amar separately saw Hira celebrating Pak’s missile attacks online, including one on Delhi. He asked: “But hey, like I’m in Delhi too.” Hira could never understand the sentiment.
But the job was done. Sukhi, from a prominent army family, and Hira, married into an air force family, had a loyal asset across the border. A sleeper cell who would do their bidding in the name of loyalty to/care for friends like family.
And the “asset,” the whole time, thought he was just being human and rising above borders.
Lesson learnt? Humanity is beyond the ken of Pakistanis.
High time Bharata did a complete boycott of all things Pakistani.
Politicians and army? (Do I need to say anything?)
Art and music? Lowkey proselytisation.
Flims and TV? Anti-Bharata narratives, Hinduphobic undertones.
Artists? Closeted and sometimes not-so-closeted jihadist sympathisers.
Academia and media? Anti-Bharata propagandists.
Preachers? Proselytisers and proponents of jihad, call for unity of ummah across national borders.
Your average Tahir, Duha, and Hamza: Footsoldiers of jihad, Ghazwa’e Hind.
You might accuse me of generalising but then so do we say out of sheer ignorance that ‘all religions are the same’ – no they’re not, not on an intellectual, philosophical, or spiritual level, and definitely not on a sociopolitical level.
I’ve known enough Pakistanis both here in the UK and in their own country to say that everything else is a poor façade.
You can enjoy Bolly/Lollywood (hardly different) or shairo shairi or Urdu literature together but I dare you, the moment you talk about Islam, Pak/India, or jihad (e.g. Palestine, Kashmir, anywhere else), you will see the true faces of all of your dearest ‘friends across the border’.
Another comment makes a good call on banning the social media.
I know someone back in India (I’m from the diaspora) who was brainwashed into literal treason and extremism by a ‘friend’ from across the border.
All Pakistani artists must be banned in India. Any Indian citizen or company employing or collaborating with any Pakistani citizen must be fined and prosecuted. Also, any Indian citizen getting married to a Pakistani must relinquish his/her Indian citizenship immediately. Failure to do so should result in prosecution by the state.
India must stop issuing visas to Pakistani citizens once and for all. The only exception being diplomatic visas.
Also, all Youtube and Instagram channels registered in Pakistan must be banned in India. A blanket ban on Pakistani content – both social media and otherwise – in India is the need of the hour.
Who wants these terror sympathisers and pleasant faces hiding the vilest jihadism in our country?
Good riddance – let’s stop funding them completely, whether through work in B’wood or following their ‘art’ (much of it Hinduphobic/Indophobic anyway) on platforms online.
Pakistani actors must be boycotted permanently. Any Indian production house working with Pakistani artists must be fined and banned by the government.
Also, Pakistanis must not be given visas, whatever might be the situation.