After Fawad, Mahira Khan speaks up against terror

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan became a rage in India after her TV show Humsafar made waves across the border in 2014. Her popularity among Indian fans ensured her a Bollywood debut with no less than superstar Shah Rukh Khan, with whom she stars in the soon-to-be-released Raees in 2017. However, the actor like the rest of her fraternity from Pakistan, finds herself in troubled waters as the clamour for a ban on all Pakistani artists rises across the border - following the Uri attack.

In an emotional and thoughtful post on Facebook, Mahira has unequivocally spoken out against terror, and like her colleague Fawad Khan, called for peace. Here is what she wrote:

In the five years that I have been working as an actor I believe that I have tried my best to keep my country's respect intact - by being a professional and by representing Pakistan here and elsewhere to the best of my abilities.

As a Pakistani and citizen of the world I strongly condemn any act of terror, any loss of human life no matter which soil it is on. I will not rejoice in bloodshed and war. I will always hope for and dream of a world where my child can live without it, and always plead with everyone to imagine a peaceful world.

It has also been in this time my faith in saner minds and goodness has been restored, thank you for the messages, love and support.

Hoping and praying for peace always.

MK

(This post first appered on Mahira Khan's Facebook page.)

Will India's attitude towards artists from across the border change after Mahira and Fawad's comments?

Also read: Readers tell us whether India should ban Pakistani artists

India and Pakistan are witnessing one of the frostiest dips in the relationship graph in the aftermath of the Uri attack on September 18. Talks of all-out war, other diplomatic options and even touching the hitherto sacrosanct Indus Waters Treaty have set ablaze the TV studios as well as the national conversation in the two rival neighbours.

The latest brunt of the fallout has been borne, unfortunately enough, by the slew of talented Pakistani artists who have found an immensely appreciative audience among the Indians. Actors such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, singers like Atif Aslam, whose popularity rivals the biggest and the brightest of homegrown Bollywood stars, are now being hooted and booed on social media for being, well, Pakistanis.

Read more here.