Udaipur, May 15, 2025: Pakistani stars have been removed from the thumbnails of songs from some popular Bollywood films. Songs from movies like ‘Raees’, ‘Kapoor & Sons’, and ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’—which earlier showed these stars—now show only Indian actors.

According to various entertainment media outlets in India, pictures of Mahira Khan, Fawad Khan, and Mawra Hussain have been removed from the promotional images of these songs. Users first noticed the change on popular music streaming apps like Wynk Music, JioSaavn, and Spotify.

Mahira Khan Removed

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who starred opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 Bollywood film Raees, was earlier seen in the promotional video of the song Zalima. Now, only Shah Rukh Khan appears in the thumbnail on platforms, including YouTube.

Fawad, Mawra Removed

Actor Fawad Khan, who appeared in 'Kapoor and Sons' alongside Sidharth Malhotra and Alia Bhatt, is no longer seen in the thumbnail of the film's songs. Only Alia and Sidharth are now visible.

Similarly, Mawra Hussain, the lead actress in the 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam, has been removed from the song's promotional video. Now, only co-star Harshvardhan Rane remains in the visuals.

Political Tension?

After the Uri attack in 2016, India-Pakistan relations worsened. Since then, the presence of Pakistani artists in Indian films has faced heavy criticism. Though things had started to normalise earlier this year, new political tensions seem to have brought back restrictions.

Political Pressure

Bollywood experts believe these changes could be due to political pressure, audience preferences, or even platform policy decisions. They say Bollywood has often faced such pressure, and this removal of Pakistani actors may be part of an effort to erase their past contributions.

No Official Statement Yet

So far, none of the production houses or streaming platforms have made any official statement about the removals.

Social Media Reaction

The issue is trending on social media, with many calling it an attempt to erase history. Some say the decision reflects political motives, while others are downplaying it by saying the song matters more than the image.