Dawn Images

Mahira Khan becomes the latest victim of false online 'news'

A snippet from an interview in 2011 is making the rounds online and now she's being accused of 'anti-India sentiments.'

31 Dec, 2016

There's no escaping online bullying and irresponsible 'news' stories, and Mahira Khan has become the latest victim of this.

The Pakistani actor's TV interview from 2011 on 'The Shareef Show' with Umer Shareef has caused quite a commotion online, especially in India.

It started with a tweet containing a video clip from the show in which Umar Shareef talks of promoting Pakistan, a statement which Mahira responds to by saying, "You should not be inspired by Bollywood. We are not India." This was said in the context of a larger conversation about supporting Pakistani talent.

Indian publications like Bollywood Hungama and Indian Express picked up the clip out of context and used it to point fingers at Mahira for "anti-India sentiments" ahead of the release of her Bollywood debut film Raees.

It didn't take long for Mahira fans to jump in and call out haters:

However, Mahira couldn't care less:

Due to the tension between Pakistan and India, Shah Rukh Khan met with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray earlier this month to discuss the future of his upcoming film Raees alongside Mahira Khan.

According to Indian Express, Thackeray had said, "The meeting was to clarify reports that Pakistanis would be promoting the film. They wanted to say that no Pakistani will be coming to India. They also assured that till the situation between the two countries improves they will not hire any Pakistani actor."

This interview of Mahira's was aired in 2011 for the promotion of her Pakistani debut film Bol. Here's the full show, the snippet has been taken from 14.54 - 16.25:

This is not the first time the actor has dealt with fake online news, just a few days ago she called out Urdu publication Nawaiwaqt for a false interview of hers:

Comments

truth Dec 31, 2016 02:56pm

Anyway Raees is gonna be a masala film, trailer says it all. Zero inspiration, just faltu content...It's better to watch Dangal for a second time rather than watch Raees.

Recommend (0)

Thor Dec 31, 2016 03:09pm

Do you know trollers are being paid for trolling? Kejriwal was the first to introduce this infamous idea in India.

Recommend (0)

mahira Dec 31, 2016 03:22pm

god bless mahira and her family. hope she will never ever go to india after this controversy.

Recommend (0)

NURUL HUDA Dec 31, 2016 03:52pm

I feel ashamed of some of our news channels like India Today. ZEE news, Aaj Tak etc.. Before published they could checked the clip to find out...

Recommend (0)

kaliraja thangamani Dec 31, 2016 03:57pm

@mahira These people did not represent whole India. We want Pakistani talents in bollywood and other fields in India.

Recommend (0)

Zealot Dec 31, 2016 04:32pm

I fully endorse your Views and i hope such sense must prevail among people like humayun saeed too but can you answer me A-why were you working in indian films then if you think that we are not Bollywood but you became bollywood when working in Bollywood films.

Recommend (0)

MJ Khan Dec 31, 2016 04:40pm

She said this in 2011, still went there in 2016.

Recommend (0)

He is paranoid and needs medicl attention Dec 31, 2016 04:59pm

It is unfortunate that the Indian people are not mature enough to face the real world. The Indian acctresses do not want Mahira Khan to perform in Bollywood as they are afraid of her talent. They have started cold war, which has no ending.

Recommend (0)

VIVAAN SINGH Dec 31, 2016 06:48pm

Raees srk one more flop ... Flop khan!!

Recommend (0)

Khwarezmi Dec 31, 2016 06:50pm

So what is she even said those things? Indians are saying the worst things about us which can best be compared to the Nazis campaign against the jews in WW2.

Recommend (0)

Babar Dec 31, 2016 07:22pm

This was 2011. Money changes thoughts.

Recommend (0)

Saira kalim mirza Dec 31, 2016 09:11pm

Is there scarcity of films in Pakistan that Mahira goes to India? ....

Recommend (0)

Agha Ata Dec 31, 2016 09:16pm

Mahira Khan's best response towards these online newscasters should be "To Hell With You." And then carry on with her work.

Recommend (0)

s.raza Dec 31, 2016 09:18pm

i would say Raees (Mahira Khan) do not take these tweets seriously y r public figure so peoples will gossip about you. this show you are popular famous

Recommend (0)

Yousuf siddiqui Dec 31, 2016 09:30pm

How shameful for Indians to pick up a statement made by a Pakistani artist years ago and making a mountain out of a mole hill. Don't Indian artist make such statements,emphasizing that West is not a something to be copied? What's wrong if Mahira Khan said something in good faith without taking any politics between India a Pakistan, Come on growup

Recommend (0)

Another view Dec 31, 2016 10:08pm

These haters in both countries will always be this way. Don't get involved into their argument, no point of it, waste of time. Talent is respected in India and Pakistan. Mahira seems mature enough to keep her response (or no response) simple. But please don't assume silly or hate comments from individuals represent whole country(ies).

Recommend (0)

Zak Dec 31, 2016 11:23pm

Stay strong mahira. You are a great talent, your professional trajectory is dependent on no one. Have faith, rest will come naturally.

Recommend (0)

Zaman Jan 01, 2017 12:03am

Bollywood-totally irrelevant! Waste of time and money. Develop and promote indigenous talent.

Recommend (0)

Hyder ALI Jan 01, 2017 01:28am

Why a Pakistani actor has to work on Indian film?

Recommend (0)

Nida Jan 01, 2017 02:06am

Start by dressing like a Pakistani

Recommend (0)

Yeallah ali, Abottabad, Pakisthan Jan 01, 2017 02:09am

She Mahira Khan is worst acting and should learn from Bollywood actors how to act naturely !

Recommend (0)

Sami Jan 01, 2017 02:54am

So she says she won't go to India in 2011. 2016- she goes.

Recommend (0)

gogo Jan 01, 2017 03:51am

@MJ Khan She will go again next year if there is a call. Money talks.

Recommend (0)

dua Jan 01, 2017 03:57am

Mahira we love u....wht ever ppl say about u....u was and are always inspiration for women nd an ideal.....very natural artist....god bless u

Recommend (0)

Live Jan 01, 2017 05:03am

@kaliraja thangamani same here we want Indian artist to take part in every field of art in Pakistan like coke studio, telefilms, dramas, theatre and any form of art. Let's break the bread together and live a happy loving life.

Recommend (0)

jj Jan 01, 2017 06:36am

There is nothing wrong to be pride on your on country. She is not wrong to say this.

Recommend (0)

Samaar Jan 01, 2017 08:27am

It always better to go , work, visit to Friendly countries like china...you get love for love...India is country ...you get hate for love..

Recommend (0)

A Jan 01, 2017 09:19am

Only shameless people will go to India for work after this

Recommend (0)

Mohammad I. Sheikh Jan 01, 2017 11:20am

This is about self confidence and having her own identity.

Recommend (0)

Vivek - Indore, MP Jan 01, 2017 11:22am

Welcome to India, our population is 1.25 billion and we don't have any girl who is as beautiful and talented as Mahira.

Recommend (0)

Ahmad Jan 01, 2017 12:09pm

@NURUL HUDA You shudnt, Every society has such people, we got too. Cheers !

Recommend (0)

Ahmad Jan 01, 2017 12:10pm

@Saira kalim mirza YES!!!

Recommend (0)

Citizen Jan 01, 2017 01:06pm

@Khwarezmi, true, but do Indians come looking for a job to Pakistan

Recommend (0)

Amia Jan 03, 2017 12:33am

@truth So what if it's masala? Lots of people like masala movies, serious movies like Dangal or ones with a point aren't the only ones that are worth watching or the only good ones. Raees has a plot, a layered storyline, nice music, action and romance, and great acting. Just because it's masala doesn't make it inferior.

Recommend (0)

Yousuf siddiqui Jan 03, 2017 11:18pm

Mahira is being question by Indians about an interview she gave in a Pakistani show years ago and honestly said about first being a Pakistani and her love for Pakistan. Wouldn't a Bollywood Indian actress have same sentiments of being an Indian and love for its country, if she gave such a statement in an Indian talk show? So why this fuss?

Recommend (0)

np Jan 04, 2017 10:15pm

"This is not the first time the actor has dealt with fake online news" If the interview is genuine, it cannot be called fake online news.

Recommend (0)

np Jan 04, 2017 10:18pm

@Yousuf siddiqui "How shameful for Indians to pick up a statement made by a Pakistani artist years ago and making a mountain out of a mole hill. Don't Indian artist make such statements,emphasizing that West is not a something to be copied? " Do those very same artistes then go west? No. There is no mountain of a mole hill. People have a right to patronize an actor or not. Having information about that actor's views is certainly an input to whether you want to spend money to watch that actor's work.

Recommend (0)

np Jan 04, 2017 10:19pm

@Yousuf siddiqui "Mahira is being question by Indians about an interview she gave in a Pakistani show years ago and honestly said about first being a Pakistani and her love for Pakistan. Wouldn't a Bollywood Indian actress have same sentiments of being an Indian and love for its country, if she gave such a statement in an Indian talk show? So why this fuss? " She is perfectly within her rights to love Pakistan.

Recommend (0)