New Delhi: The world is praising Netflix series Squid Game except the Pakistanis, who are questioning why an Indian actor always gets to play the role of a Pakistani character.
Anupam Tripathi, the Indian actor who played the role of Ali Abdul, an undocumented Pakistani migrant worker in South Korea, has won many hearts for being the “gentle, kind & loyal player” in the show. Pakistanis say they are tired of filmmakers hiring Indians to play their roles.
A Twitter user admitted the show is good but wrote: “it’s so frustrating to see Pakistani characters in big TV series being played by Indian actors. Why can’t these productions cast original Pakistani actors for such roles?”
Just Finished Netflix series Squid Games season 1,
A good show but It’s so frustrating to see Pakistani characters in big TV series being played by Indian actors. Why can’t these productions cast original Pakistani actors for such roles?.#SquidGames #Netflix
— Wadoodsanjrani (@SanjraniWadood) October 10, 2021
While one pointed out how the same thing was done in Money Heist, in which Indian actor Ajay Jethi played the role of a Pakistani hacker called Shakir, another user said how Tripathi isn’t even a Muslim in real life.
The Pakistani charecter 'Ali' in squid game is played by an indian actor who isn't even muslim? pic.twitter.com/zubeatzprD
— Ayesha (@penggggirl) October 7, 2021
why Pakistani characters are being played by Indian actors? why can't these productions cast original Pakistani actors?#SquidGame #MoneyHeist #netflix pic.twitter.com/DQwVy3wefR
— SheharBano. (@oyeee_banooo) October 8, 2021
A user said an Indian actor for a Pakistani character felt like a slap in the face. She wrote: “Being pakistani myself, i am kind of disappointed that they cast an indian actor for a paki character in squid game instead of just casting a paki actor,or better yet, made modifications to his character so he could be indian cuz tbh it feels like a slap in the face”.
being pakistani myself, i am kind of disappointed that they cast an indian actor for a paki character in squid game instead of just casting a paki actor,or better yet, made modifications to his character so he could be indian cuz tbh it feels like a slap in the face:/ #squidgame
— *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ (@bluem00nch1ld) October 8, 2021
However, there were few others who said there was a valid reason for having an Indian play a Pakistani: “..netflix has never shown pakistani characters so good as this one. can’t you just be chill for once?”
The same user added in another tweet: “if you have pakistani actors studying films in korea then fair enough you got robbed, but he got a job and he did it very well. whats so upsetting about it as a Pakistani? netflix has never shown pakistani characters so good as this one. can’t you just be chill for once?”
if you have pakistani actors studying films in korea then fair enough you got robbed, but he got a job and he did it very well. whats so upsetting about it as a Pakistani? netflix has never shown pakistani characters so good as this one. can’t you just be chill for once?
— ❥ (@ithesheeshkebab) October 9, 2021
if you have pakistani actors studying films in korea then fair enough you got robbed, but he got a job and he did it very well. whats so upsetting about it as a Pakistani? netflix has never shown pakistani characters so good as this one. can’t you just be chill for once?
— ❥ (@ithesheeshkebab) October 9, 2021
The NPR also quoted a few Pakistanis from around the world who were happy with the cast.
Ali Gul Pir, a comedian based in Pakistan, is quoted as saying: “Our country and our industry is so small as compared to India so it makes sense to choose an Indian actor to play the role as besides physical appearance, he also speaks fluent Korean which was of course one of the prime requirements for casting. He did a complete justice to the character.”