Amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam terror attack, an old video of the late actor Irrfan Khan has resurfaced and is making waves on social media. Known for his subtle wit and deadpan humor, Irrfan's reply to a Pakistani journalist's invitation to visit Pakistan has left fans in splits once again.
The viral clip features a Pakistani journalist expressing admiration and affection from fans across the border. “Hello Irrfan bhai, you have a great following in Pakistan. I wish you can sometime come to Pakistan. It'll be a great pleasure,” the journalist says.
With his trademark calm demeanor and razor-sharp timing, Irrfan responds, “Main aah toh jaaunga, wapas aaunga ki nahi?” (I will visit Pakistan, but will I be able to come back?), instantly breaking the tension and leaving the audience in laughter. His quick-witted remark has been hailed by fans as another reminder of his brilliance both on and off-screen.
Today we have S-400, AkashTeer, but back then, we had Irrfan Khan to destroy Pakistan pic.twitter.com/DEhrqVem3b
BALA (@erbmjha) May 13, 2025
The video has gained renewed attention at a time when India has taken a strong stance on restricting Pakistani content. In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to OTT platforms to remove Pakistani-origin films, shows, songs, and other content. The advisory reads, “In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue… content… having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect.”
Following this directive, prominent Pakistani artists like Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Mawra Hocane have seen their images removed from Bollywood content. For instance, the Raees album now features Shah Rukh Khan solo, with Mahira Khan’s visuals scrubbed. Similarly, Fawad Khan’s presence has been erased from the Kapoor & Sons posters on streaming platforms.
Despite these political divides, Irrfan Khan's legacy continues to bridge cultural gaps. Known for his cross-border collaborations, he starred opposite Pakistani actress Saba Qamar in the critically acclaimed Hindi Medium (2017).
In a 2022 interview, actor Shashank Arora shared an anecdote from the sets of The Song of Scorpions. Irrfan, ever playful, would propose spontaneous trips to the India-Pakistan border to "fly a kite" and jested about whether “someone would shoot the kite down.”
Irrfan passed away on April 29, 2020, but his words, humor, and humanity live on.
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