Following Operation Sindoor—a strategic military response by the Indian Armed Forces against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir—Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has sparked a significant controversy with her aggressively worded social media posts attacking India. The air strikes were carried out on May 7 following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that claimed 25 Indian tourists and one Nepali citizen’s lives.
“Shame on You,” India Tells Mahira Khan
Posting on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), Mahira Khan did not hold back. She posted, “I am grateful that I live in a country where I am not dictated to say what I have to. I have a voice and I CAN use it. We speak up when there are injustices in our own land, we condemn violence wherever it happens even my country Pakistan is instantly blamed without ANY evidence.”
She blamed Indian media for fanning separatism and asked why Indian celebrities and opinion leaders were staying silent, stating, “Your most powerful voices remain silent in the face of genocides and war crimes – silenced not my law, but by fear!. Shame on you” Her passionate appeal ended with one calling for peace and patriotism, “My Pakistan, I love you. May we do the right thing. May we never stoop to that level even after this heinous provocation. Ameen. Pakistan Zindabad. Pakistan Paaindabad.”
Backlash from Indian Audiences
Though banned in India, Mahira’s comment soon went viral through screenshots, inciting angry reactions. Critics brought up Pakistan’s history of sheltering terror outfits and questioned why Mahira was silent about atrocities within Pakistan itself. Many netizens also recalled her Bollywood entry in Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees (2017), which had met with opposition following the 2016 Uri attack.
Mahira Khan: A Celebrity in the Crossfire
Mahira Khan, who has acted in The Legend of Maula Jatt, Humsafar, and Bol, has repeatedly found herself torn between her fan base in India and Pakistan. Her tantrum again puts celebrities at the forefront of geopolitical tension, where words are analyzed not just for their purpose but for their national connotations.
Call for Caution in the Digital Age
With escalating political rhetoric across borders, Mahira Khan’s remark highlights the precarious nature of celebrity opinion in shaping national security. Her message of peace, even as she speaks, shows how deep-rooted narratives can provoke outraged criticism—and further polarize.”.
