New Delhi: The 4-year-long wait is finally over and ICC men’s ODI World Cup 2023 is knocking right at the door.
Just like all the other teams, the Pakistani cricket team along with their support staff has also landed in India to participate in the popular cricket tournament after a long gap of seven years.
Earlier after the infamous 26/11 Mumbai terror attack (2008), the Indian Government prohibited the entry of Pakistani players into the country and as a result, they were also banned from participating in the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) following seasons.
However, when India was announced as the host of 2016’s T20 World Cup, the government was compelled to lift the ban and allow Pakistani players to enter into India and participate in the tournament.
In the same year, history repeated itself one more time as Pakistan-supported Jaish-e-Mohammed militants launched a deadly attack on an Indian army camp in Kashmir’s Uri and killed 19 soldiers.
The attack shook the entire nation and anger against Pakistani artists and cricketers soared up again in the masses one more time. As a result, the Indian government had to once again ban Pak professionals from entering or working in India. Ever since then, none of the Pakistani artists was allowed to visit India.
Now, after seven years since the Uri attack, India has opened its doors once again for the arrival of the Pakistani cricket team and the same has triggered a reaction from the director of Shah Rukh Khan’s 2016 super hit movie Raees.
Rahul Dholakiya’s question infuriates netizens
Now that #Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films ? Or Musicians to perform?
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) September 28, 2023
On Friday, the famous director Rahul Dholakiya, took to his Twitter (X) handle to share his question from the masses.
In his tweet, Rahul wondered if he could invite Pakistani artists and musicians to work in India once again and wrote, “Now that Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films? Or Musicians to perform?”
However, his question didn’t go well with the netizens who got irked and slammed the director for asking something like that.
Responding to his question one user wrote, “Why don’t you go to Pakistan & stay there for forever to enjoy Pakistani movies & their musician’s music.”
Y dont you go to pakistan & stay there for forever to enjoy pakistani movies & their musicians music.
— Harshada (@Kajal_sk27) September 28, 2023
Another said, “I don’t think anyone will have a problem if a Pakistani plays the role of a terrorist”
I don’t think any one will have problem if a Pakistani plays a role of a terrorist or a orthodox hater in cinemas
— Jawan….the Tsunami.. (@Dynamicdon2) September 28, 2023
“Pakistan ke liye pyar bahut chalak raha hai. Itna agar Pakistan Prem hai to Pakistan Jake a sakte hai.”, commented a third user
Pakistan ke liye pyar bahut chalak raha hai. Itna agar Pakistan Prem hai to Pakistan Jake a sakte hai.
— Action (@parthosghosh1) September 29, 2023
Here are some more reactions:
why dont you go there and make your cheap films and please dont come back for god sake
— shruti (@shrutit84614414) September 29, 2023
There is no dearth of talent in India..
Why do you want Pakistani actors?— Sham_Pawara (@ShamPawara09) September 29, 2023
Pakistani Cricketers were granted Visas just two days before departure for the World Cup and not a tour of India. You are more than welcome to go to Pak & work there by recruiting their actors and musicians .Till then , help yourself by reading news article on Anantnag encounter
— Raghavendran G (@raga_2020) September 29, 2023
Why you people not worried about our soldiers. You glorified antagonist in your film. And now wants this.
— vikrant jaiswal (@MscVikrant) September 29, 2023
Not At All – Its An ICC EVENT, so it’s allowed and tolerated. No Pakistani Actor or Singer Should Be Allowed In India At All.
— SHREEJOY BHATTACHARYA (@ShreejoyTweets) September 29, 2023
you don’t have icc tournaments for artists, so I don’t think that you can work with them😂😂
— मुसाफ़िर🇦🇷 (@PogoTogo1) September 28, 2023
Apki roti bhi kya Pakistan se lana hai??
— 【 尺Ỗήίᵗ】 (@RonitRulez) September 28, 2023
Abe bhikari!!
Tell us your motivation??
You want to feed snakes.why???
Just for money.
Indian cricket team only plays pakistan in ICC events and that too outside india.
You go and meet them in dubai and make films for Pakistan.Shame on you u B…for even suggesting such a thing!— RvYas@07 (@rv_yas) September 28, 2023
For the uninformed, Rahul had Pakistani actress Mahira Khan as the lead actress alongside Shah Rukh Khan in his 2016 movie Raees. The movie also marked the Bollywood debut of the gorgeous actress who despite being one of the leads in the film was prohibited from promoting it due to the ban imposed on Pakistani actors post the infamous Uri attacks.
Besides Mahira, several other Pakistani artists including singer/actor Ali Zafar from the entertainment industry were affected by the ban as massive protests against the movies featuring Pakistani artists were demonstrated in different parts of the country.
Pak artist Fawad Khan has worked in numerous Indian films including Khubsurat (2014), Kapoor and Sons (2016) and Ai Dil hai Mushkil (2016) while Ali Zafar has also been a part of many Bollywood movies like Mere Brother ki Dulhan (2011) Total Siyappaa (2014), Kill Dill (2014) and Dear Zindagi (2016).
