Because of the communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir, the Bollywood filmmaker cannot get in touch with the actor.

20 Aug, 2019

Shonali Bose is raising her voice against the abrogation of Article 370 by India.

Taking to Instagram, The Sky is Pink director expressed her dismay over the current situation and also her concern for young actor, Zaira Wasim, who resides in Jammu.

View this post on Instagram

#NotmyIndia. It has been two weeks since the unprecedented communication blockade of Jammu and Kashmir. My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s. The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations. But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures. I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory? Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly. For me the shock and anger at this unconstitutional act is laced with sorrow at how our own people must be feeling in this part of our country. Feelings we can only imagine - as there is still a blackout! On a personal level I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened. Zaira was very worried that something terrible was afoot because of the sudden influx of massive troops. I reassured her not dreaming something so draconian and unprecedented could be carried out. And since then I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in the film in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now. #NotmyIndia

A post shared by Shonali Bose (@shonalibose_) on Aug 17, 2019 at 10:16pm PDT

Starting her note with 'Not my India' Bose called out the communication blockade in Indian occupied Kashmir.

Said Bose, "My heart is heavy as the sky is dark over India’s democracy right now. My heart has always ached for the terrible human rights violations in the Valley - right from the times of the Congress government in the 90’s. The disappearances and killing of innocent youth is not new. Nor is the opening of fire on demonstrations."

"But this government has crossed every line with it’s draconian measures."

She added, "I want to ask every Indian - every Bengali, Maharashtrian, Gujarati, Tamilian et al - how would you feel if your State was split overnight and converted into a Union Territory? Leave Article 370 aside for a moment and answer that honestly."

Bose then went on to speak about not being able to communicate with Dangal star, Zaira Wasim, who'd announced that she's quitting Bollywood in June after completing Shonali's film.

"On a personal level, I have never known anyone before in the State. But now I have a child there. Zaira Wasim - the heart and soul of The Sky is Pink. I have known her and her family over one year - spent marvelous times with them in both Srinagar and Jammu. I was with them in Jammu just a day before this happened."

"I’m besides myself with worry at not being able to reach her. To give her strength at this difficult time. To wish them Eid Mubarak. I’m sure they couldn’t celebrate it. We parted with the promise to stay in touch every day. Echoing a promise she and her brother make to each other in [the Sky is Pink] in a brilliantly acted and moving scene. But I can’t reach my baby right now."

Shonali is one of the first members of Bollywood to speak up against the abrogation of Article 370 and comment on the ongoing unrest in Kashmir.