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Urwa Hocane criticises Pakistani celebrities staying neutral amid rising tensions with India

Urwa Hocane criticises Pakistani celebrities staying neutral amid rising tensions with India

In an Instagram video, Hocane called out local stars for refusing to take a firm stance on the matter and not having "self-respect".
05 May, 2025

Urwa Hocane is questioning why Pakistani actors don’t have self-respect and are remaining “neutral” when their country is “being targeted” amidst escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.

The actor’s statement comes after the April 22 attack in India-occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam that left 26 dead. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, but Islamabad has denied all allegations. In the aftermath, Fawad Khan’s upcoming Bollywood film Abir Gulaal’s release was cancelled in India, and Pakistani celebrities’ social media accounts as well as Pakistani news and entertainment YouTube channels were banned in India.

Many Pakistani stars offered heartfelt condolences after the attack, expressing their grief over the lives lost, including Hocane’s sister Mawra, and her husband Farhan Saeed. Mawra also starred in an Indian movie, Sanam Teri Kasam, which recently saw a resurgence in popularity in the country. Following news of the social media ban, many stars were left confused, while others mocked the ban. Saeed called it India’s “loss” while actor Armeena Khan said she was “not too bothered”.

In an Instagram video, Hocane discussed the matter, stating that she wondered for a few days whether she should make the video because she did not want to escalate any hate or get involved in beating her own colleagues. She later realised that it’s “very 1980s and 1990s that actors don’t have an opinion on politics, and now I have clarity of thought.”

The Udaari actor said the situation wasn’t about politics, it was about self-respect. Explaining it in “layman’s language”, Hocane invited her audience to imagine that a crime such as a murder was committed in front of them, and everyone blamed one individual. She questioned if one’s first instinct would be to mourn the loss of humanity or defend oneself against baseless allegations.

“Obviously, you’d say, ‘I didn’t do this, don’t blame me, back off.’ It’s not like you’re not upset, but your human instinct is to first clarify that you did not do it and [to say], ‘Do not dare accuse me of something I have not done.’” Hocane believed the people around her weren’t understanding this basic matter.

“I don’t want to name anyone, but self-respect comes first. I’m all for collaborating internationally and doing international projects, It’s all well and good that you make your country’s name shine. But when there is a test, you must pick a side. You can’t say, ‘let’s deal with this with kindness and peace’.

“Yes, we’re all for peace and kindness, but if someone kicks you out of their house first and mistreats you…” Hocane said that if someone kicked a person out of their home, the person wouldn’t go back a second time, and called it a situation that had happened countless times.

The actor maintained that she did not understand what celebrities received from India and asked for one example that would help her understand how they benefited. She swiftly added that even if Pakistani celebrities had in fact benefited, they should not have remained neutral on this matter “because there is no bigger loss than that of respect, and no benefit means anything before that.”

“Everything you are is because of your country and its people. You have a name because of them, and if at one instance you have to return that respect, you immediately become neutral and have nothing to say.”

Hocane stated that she was very upset by the matter and tried very hard to pick the words to express herself because she couldn’t live without speaking out. “I do not want to feel like an idiot by not having an opinion.

“This is a strange situation. We all know what’s happening, we need to recognise our individuality, and stand up for our self-respect.” She questioned what Pakistan lacked that celebrities needed from somewhere else, and that in cross-border collaborations, local artists were also adding value to their content.

“Have faith in yourself also. Yes, be grateful, be thankful, be respectful, but if someone is crossing your boundaries, then [show them their] place. We practice this in our normal lives, so why do we forget?”

Hocane continued that celebrities were in a certain position and quoted the iconic Spider-Man dialogue, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

“You’re representing the whole nation as an actor,” she said. Hocane continued that if celebrities weren’t thinking about themselves or didn’t have a habit of protecting their self-respect, before adding that she knew actors did have the habit of setting “boundaries” with Pakistani audiences.

“They’re very clear on which boundaries of theirs shouldn’t be crossed, then when your entire nation and country are being targeted, why don’t you have an opinion? This opinion and shut-up call doesn’t mean you’re escalating hate, it means you’re telling the other person, ‘back off, we have some boundaries, watch what you’re saying and doing because we have self-respect’.”

Hocane concluded: “We are who we are because of our country. This country makes us who we are, and we make it. How can we not stand for it?”

Comments

Ahsan Gul May 05, 2025 02:46pm
Urwa, you have dignity and respect for the country where you are born and raised. But majority of these so called our artists are hungry for money and fame. There example is like a stray dog who has no shame and can be kicked around by anyone. Thanks for bringing this issue up.
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Love Indo-Pak May 05, 2025 03:42pm
Just be respectful to one another as good human being, India-Pakistan are our friends and families. Our politicians and religious pundits wants us to keep fighting to one another and spread hate among us all year around.
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Zitin May 05, 2025 04:25pm
Low IQ
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JAMIL SOOMRO May 05, 2025 04:30pm
"Everything you are is because of your country and its people. You have a name because of them." A very true thought provoking statement by Urwa Hocane.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 05, 2025 05:14pm
When the going gets tough and the environments get rough, only the toughest and roughest get going.
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TT Boy May 05, 2025 05:16pm
She needs BBC.. CNN will definitely not work for her. It’s all about the viewership and needs.
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Haider Mahmud May 05, 2025 05:20pm
Very well done Urwa. You have displayed strong character. A lot of respect for you.
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Anonymouseee May 05, 2025 05:48pm
Finally somebody making sense. Well done Urwa. Our country comes first. Pakistan zindabad.
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Jin May 05, 2025 07:16pm
Tell your sister eh?
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Khadija May 05, 2025 07:58pm
I agree with you.do they have more fan following in lndia than sharukh khan and salman khan have in pakistan. But when your country is involved atleast one should have courage to speak the truth.where was your humanity few months ago when jaffer express incident occurred. These guys are only concerned about their money. I think Pakistani fans should unfollow their accounts. Because they r only concerned about their lndian fans.extremely disappointed by their mean behaviour. These so called celebrities have lost their respect in our eyes.
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Samsam May 05, 2025 08:51pm
Zabar10! Urwa. Beauty with brains.
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ABC May 05, 2025 10:05pm
You are talking about self-respect…. Ok, then why did you change your last name from Hussain to Hocane? Were you ashamed of your last name? What about self respect for the last name?
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Mahmood May 05, 2025 10:33pm
Is that a surprise to anyone? Some so-called "Celebrities" in Pakistan know their status is only due to their bread being buttered in Bollywood. Somr have even kept mumm over the genocide in Gaza - lest their paymasters get offended if they even even offered a pitiful bleat of solidarity with the suffering Palestinians. Money talks..Or should say "money opens many doors and shuts many mouths:!?
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Shahzad May 05, 2025 11:34pm
Hate should stop both sides. Humanity should take over.
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Gurpreet Singh May 06, 2025 12:12am
The Pakistani entertainers who don't speak against India, don't do so because they hope to have a chance to work in an Indian project someday. And the Pakistani entertainers who speak against India, do so because they know they have absolutely no chance of working in an Indian project and are therefore frustrated. This lady, whoever she is, obviously falls in the latter category.
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Saeed Siddiqui May 06, 2025 12:28am
Minding your own business is a decent way. Provoking others is very typical jamati mentality.
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Khan viqas May 06, 2025 01:33am
Same thing about Palestine
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vivian mascarenhas May 06, 2025 01:57am
Very true.Our politicians are uneducated,maffia’s goons.We need young vibrant well educated leaders
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Shahid May 06, 2025 05:07am
India could not present any proof of Pakistan's involvement and what they did, was to blame Pakistan merely 20 minuttes after the incident. They have also not answered to a Pakistani call for an impartial investigation by the UNO. On the contrary, Pakistan has presented a number of undeniable proofs of Indian involvement in Balochistan. Kulbhushan Yadav is one such proof and Ajit Doval's public statements where he promised to make Pakistan bleed in Balochistan are for everyone to see. India herself is involved in terrorist activities in Canada, the USA, Pakistan and Bangladesh. They are actually trying to act as Israel does but in a very childish and foolish way. They need to know that they do not have that type of control over the west that Israel has developed in the last 6-7 decades.
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Reality May 06, 2025 11:52am
Ah the other sis mints money and she n hubby are Jobless...so a smart shot at fame
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Shaan May 06, 2025 02:20pm
Well said!! Pakistani artists need to grow a backbone and be a bit more patriotic!!
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