Pakistani actors Mawra Hocane and Mahira Khan removed from Sanam Teri Kasam, Raees music album covers amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Pakistani actors Mawra Hocane and Mahira Khan removed from Sanam Teri Kasam, Raees music album covers amid India-Pakistan Tensions

Tensions between India and Pakistan have yet again spilled into the entertainment world. Following a ban on Pakistani actors’ social media accounts in India, music companies have now started removing visuals of Pakistani actors from Indian film albums. One such notable change was on the album cover of Sanam Teri Kasam, which originally featured both leads — Harshvardhan Rane and Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane. The updated version now only features Rane.

Similarly, Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan’s Raees has undergone visual alterations, with Mahira removed from the album covers across Spotify and YouTube Music. Interestingly, the visuals from Khoobsurat, starring Sonam Kapoor and Fawad Khan, remain unchanged.

The decision has sparked an intense exchange between Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane. Hours before the news surfaced, Rane announced his decision to step away from Sanam Teri Kasam 2, citing patriotic reasons. “While I am grateful for the experience, I have decided to respectfully decline to be part of Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if there’s any chance of the previous cast returning,” he wrote on Instagram. “I respect all artists and humans of this country, that country, Kenya, and even Mars. But derogatory remarks about my country are unpardonable.”

This came in response to Mawra Hocane’s comments about India’s Operation Sindoor, which she allegedly referred to as a “cowardly act.” Rane hit back sharply: “Standing by your country is good, but disrespecting another is not.”

Hocane didn’t hold back either, accusing Rane of using the situation for PR mileage. “Someone I expected to have basic common sense has risen from deep slumber with a PR strategy,” she posted on Instagram. “While our nations are at war, this is what you come up with? A PR statement to get attention? What a pity!”

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She further added, “Making such announcements at this volatile time — it’s both shameful and bizarre to see you so hungry and desperate… If throwing all the respect away and using my name after nine years is getting you the headlines… you might be surrounded by the wrong team. You just DO NOT use war for your personal benefit.”

Rane responded strongly, defending his stance by comparing his decision to a farmer removing weeds. “The farmer doesn’t need a PR team for this act, it’s called common sense,” he stated. “I am fully within my rights to choose not to work with individuals who label my country’s actions as ‘cowardly.’”

On the removal of Mawra’s image from the album cover, Rane remarked, “Now they will say that my PR team got this done! No, it’s again common sense I assume, weeding is being exercised.”