Dawn Images

Bollywood actor Harshvardhan Rane, known for his role opposite Mawra Hocane in Sanam Teri Kasam, has said he will not be part of the film’s potential sequel if there is any possibility of the original cast returning. His comment was made in reference to a post Hocane shared about India’s attack on Pakistan on May 7, calling it “cowardly”.

In an Instagram story, Rane expressed disapproval over what he called “direct comments made about my country,” referencing Hocane’s condemnation of India’s strikes on Pakistani territory.

“While I am grateful for the experience, however as things stand, and after reading the direct comments made about my country, I have decided to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam Part 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated,” he wrote.

The 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam saw a resurgence in popularity after being re-released in February and surpassing box office expectations. Rumours of a potential sequel began to swirl after its success.

Rane labelled Hocane’s statement “derogatory, disrespectful, and hateful,” while affirming his respect for “all artists and humans of this country, that country, Kenya, and even Mars.”

He also shared a post featuring Hocane’s statement, “Strongly condemn India’s cowardly attack on Pakistan. Innocent civilians have lost lives. May Allah protect us all. May sense prevail.”

Doubling down, Rane added that he was willing to lose followers on Instagram but would not compromise on his “pride and upbringing.” He clarified that defending one’s country is commendable, but “disrespectful, hateful remarks about any other country are not.”

Hocane is one of many Pakistani celebrities who condemned the deadly attack in Pahalgam in India-held Kashmir. “An act of terrorism against one is terrorism against all… What’s happening to the world?” she had asked in another Instagram story.

She was also one of several celebrities who condemned late-night Indian airstrikes in Pakistan that claimed 33 civilian lives.

Rane’s comments the day of Pakistan’s early morning retaliatory response to India after it attacked Pakistani air bases.

At around 3:30am on Saturday, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said India targeted the Pakistan Air Force’s Nur Khan (Chaklala, Rawalpindi), Murid (Chakwal) and Rafiqui (Shorkot in Jhang district) air bases, adding that all assets of the air force remained safe.

At 4:38am, state-run PTV News said the Pakistani military launched its counter-attack against Indian aggression. At 5:52am, PTV News and Radio Pakistan said the military had destroyed a storage site of the Brahmos missiles in India’s Beas region as part of its retaliatory operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.

The statement added that an air base in Udhampur and an airfield in Pathankot were also destroyed.

The military’s chief spokesperson assured the nation that the armed forces are “vigilant and thwarting all these cowardly acts of aggression by Indians.”