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Let’s invest in ourselves, says Mahira Khan after India-Pakistan cultural fallout

Let’s invest in ourselves, says Mahira Khan after India-Pakistan cultural fallout

The actor, who is currently in the US to promote Love Guru alongside Humayun Saeed, addressed the issue of Pakistani artists being banned in India.
22 May, 2025

As tensions continue to simmer between India and Pakistan following a military escalation earlier this month, Pakistani artists remain at the heart of a complex cultural standoff. While the political climate has led to a renewed clampdown on Pakistani artists in India, actor Mahira Khan is calling for calm, and to invest in local entertainment.

Currently in the US to promote her upcoming film Love Guru alongside co-star Humayun Saeed, Khan addressed the issue of Pakistani artists being banned in India during a meet-and-greet session with fans.

The Raees star, who shared the screen with Shah Rukh Khan in her Bollywood debut before the 2016 ban on Pakistani actors, offered a layered take on the issue.

“I think we need to focus inwards, I think we need to focus on our own industries,” she said in response to a question.

“I’m not a person who believes in cancel culture. And I’m talking broadly. I do not believe in bans and stuff like that,” Khan added. Her comments come in the wake of renewed nationalistic fervour on both sides of the border, with the cultural boycott drawing fresh lines between the two film industries.

But for Khan, the answer isn’t tit-for-tat isolation. Instead, she emphasised the importance of emotional restraint and long-term investment in local talent.

“Of course, the situation is such that you are emotional, and you are very attached to your country. Your country is your country. But beyond that I think, instead of taking such a strong stance — that’s your prerogative — for us, I think it’s important that we invest in ourselves. Let’s start investing in us.”

Her remarks appear to reflect a growing sentiment within Pakistan’s creative circles, many of whom feel that while bans and restrictions may serve political optics, they do little to nurture the industries they claim to protect.

This isn’t the first time Khan has championed cross-cultural artistic freedom. After the 2017 cultural fallout between India and Pakistan, the very year Raees came out and she couldn’t be in India for its promotions, Khan expressed sadness over how politics had overshadowed her project.

In an interview with Images, she said, “I also want to promote the film. I also want to be in an interview with Shah Rukh Khan talking about it. Why not? Why is it that I get told that that’s asking for too much? It isn’t! It is my right. This was also my film.”

Now, in 2025, her message remains consistent but grounded in a call for cultural self-reliance. As Love Guru continues its international tour, Khan’s words serve not only as a reflection of her own journey navigating two industries but also as a reminder of the larger responsibility artists bear in times of division: to build, not boycott.

Comments

Tariq Anwar May 22, 2025 03:45pm
No thank you, we dont want to engage with any artists or for that matter anyone from pakistan. Stay in your country, do well and be happy. Leave us alone and we will be happy
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Laila May 22, 2025 03:47pm
Invest in ourselves. Now if people and industry could understand that, imagine the progress. Although the best progress is a complete shut down and ban on show biz in this "Islamic republic". Instead invest ressources and energy in youth, family planning, education, healthcare creating jobs and new business, R&D, entrepreneurship, environment, eradicating poverty and corruption.
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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad May 22, 2025 04:13pm
Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani.
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Gurpreet Singh May 22, 2025 04:19pm
The desire for so called cultural exchange is totally one sided. Indians neither need nor desire any cultural exchanges with Pakistan. We have a great cultural diversity & vibrancy in our own country. Don’t need low quality imports.
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Gurpreet Singh May 22, 2025 04:43pm
She’s finally realizing that she’ll never get to work in an Indian movie again.
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M. Saeed May 22, 2025 05:14pm
To boycott is Indian initiative, ignoring the fact that, India is the place of origin of Urdu, the language developed in the multilingual army of British India and by large the only language easily understood in the subcontinent, no matter India calls it Hindi out of its grudge against Pakistan. But, the fact remains, it is strongest and only driving force to ultimately become the bondage bridge.
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Hasni, Syed May 22, 2025 06:06pm
Mahira Khan's statement about investing in ourselves in the context of the India-Pakistan cultural fallout reflects a broader sentiment in the arts and entertainment industry. In times of political or cultural tension, artists and public figures often emphasize the importance of self-growth, creativity, and collaboration within their own communities. Her comment suggests a focus on nurturing local talent, promoting cultural heritage, and fostering unity among people within Pakistan. It underscores the idea that, regardless of external conflicts, there is value in strengthening one's own cultural identity and supporting local industries. This approach can help build resilience and encourage positive narratives that transcend political divides. Furthermore, investing in oneself can encompass various aspects, including education, personal development, and creative expression, all of which can contribute to a richer cultural landscape. It’s a call for introspection and proactive engagement in the arts, which can lead to greater cultural output and perhaps even bridge gaps in understanding between nations over time.
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Hussain May 22, 2025 11:46pm
Please learn your lesson and enough obsession with Indian film industry. You are unwanted and were never welcomed. Please focus on your country if you think this is your country-Pakistan!
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Laila May 23, 2025 12:55am
@Tariq Anwar I dont think any of us are rushing to visit your country. But can I ask why you are on a Pakistani news website telling us to stay away? Also out of curiosity, as your name suggests you are Muslim, so are you guys doing ok over there?
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Laila May 23, 2025 01:29am
@Gurpeet Singh Ok but if you feel this way about us, then why are you so active on a Pakistani website? Of course you are free opine and all, but you think so badly of us so it doesn't make sense. Surely you can spend your time more wisely on people you actually like. Also generalization of an entire people is not ok. I for one don't generalize all Indians as a monolith and we actually get a lot visiting my city especially Sikhs. I even interacted with some purely because I like helping people and don't see people through the lense of nationality, ethnicity, religion etc.
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Amin May 23, 2025 01:44am
@Tariq Anwar, looks like you are from India. Why we should not engage anyone from Pakistan? Pakistan is our country no matter where we live. Our heart belongs to that lovely country.
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Siva May 23, 2025 02:49am
Pakistan celebrities very well know how powerful Indian cinema on global platform and what’s their loss. No hard feelings, it’s your self goal and taking your destiny
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usman May 23, 2025 03:10am
people are dying and madam is worried about her precious interview. talk about being out of touch. read the room lady..
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Pro West May 23, 2025 03:36am
Even majority Pakistanis feel their celebs and artists do not represent Pakistani values, and would rather we didn't have them at all. How many of us know ow anyone who even remotely shares the values and lifestyle choices of these people
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Sunil May 23, 2025 03:40am
to invest you'll need money :( . also why use 'Guru' in the movie name try 'Ustad'
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Ron May 23, 2025 03:43am
she wanted to join back bollywood...
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Ron May 23, 2025 03:45am
Thanks for the comments @tariq Anwar, I hope artist of Pakistan read this and take this slap on their faces and do not take interest in Bollywood...being a Pakistani i believe this is enough insult for them
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Joe May 23, 2025 05:22am
Sorry madam There are more than required great actors available in India.As a gesture Pakistani actor were part of Bollywood.No more.
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Humza May 23, 2025 08:04am
Exactly agree with her - I have always been against Indian media, movies and music in Pakistan ; Theirs is a different culture and one good thing to come out of the recent border tensions is the awareness that we need to strengthen ourselves. No Indian influence in Pakistan - thank you.
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psy.ninja May 23, 2025 08:24am
@Grok bhi likh deta.
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Nurie Hamid May 23, 2025 08:30am
Finally mahira khan has got the msg that is to believe in your own country rather than knocking on people's doors for work
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Nurie Hamid May 23, 2025 08:33am
Mahira talks a lot of rubbish She has no sense in what she is saying what does invest in yourself means
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Laila May 23, 2025 02:29pm
@Pro West It does not matter if all Pakistani dont relate to each others or each others values or definitions of being pakistani. Pakistani is nationality, not a monolit. We are not robots. We have different socio-economic classes, different ethnicities, different languages, different backgrounds, different ideologies, different political meanings, different religious sects, different struggles and different lives. Still all are Pakistani. Majority and minority don't matter because this nation is diverse just like other nations. We don't have to share the lifestyle or values of people who are doing a professional job, whether actor, singer or carpenter, or farmer or doctor etc. That is diversity.
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Laila May 23, 2025 02:33pm
@Humza Their culture and ours is very similar. Language, foods, fashion etc are same. Thats why we was the largest export market for Bollywood films and music for decades until recent times, when the interest has evaporated and been substituted with international streaming, Turkish dramas and of course our own dramas and films.
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Gurpreet Singh May 23, 2025 03:53pm
@LAILA — My interest in this website is limited to what it says about my country and its citizens and my comments are limited to that. I neither care to read nor comment on anything else. If you don’t like to see Indians here, please request Dawn to stop writing about India & Indians.
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Ehsan May 23, 2025 06:39pm
I thought Dawn was banned in India, yet I see so many desperate Indians in the comments, maybe they want to see what balanced media/newspaper looks like. 100 percent agree with our superstar, Mahira khan, we should invest heavily on ourselves in every field
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United India May 24, 2025 03:41am
Bangladesh-India-Pakistan came from one family called United India back in 1947 and now we have three homes as mentioned above, but Why we have so much hate against each other’s….? Who is dividing us and why…?
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