'Sanam Teri Kasam' Directors Refuse Sequel With Pakistani Actress Mawra Hocane Over Anti-India Remarks

On Saturday, actor Harshvardhan Rane firmly stated that he would not be part of a potential sequel to 'Sanam Teri Kasam' if Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane were to reprise her role.

His comment followed Mawra's tweet criticising India's Operation Sindoor carried out by the armed forces.

Photo Credit: https://x.com/MawraHocane

Now, the film's directors, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, have echoed his stance, criticising Pakistani actors for either remaining silent or making adverse remarks regarding cross-border terrorism.

Directors criticise Pakistani actors

The Indian military recently launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 civilian lives.

Several Pakistani celebrities, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Mawra Hocane-who starred in 'Sanam Teri Kasam'-criticised the airstrikes.

Speaking to Hindustan Times, directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru expressed disappointment over the reactions of Pakistani actors who have previously worked in India.

"Innocent Indian lives are repeatedly lost to decades of cross-border terrorism. What's even more disheartening is the silence-or worse, the criticism-from Pakistani actors who once enjoyed love, respect, and career opportunities in India," they said.

The duo voiced their support for the Indian government's stance of barring Pakistani actors from working in India. "We wholeheartedly agree with the government's decision.

Not a single rupee should go to them. Not a moment of our time or any Indian platform should entertain them. Our loyalty lies with our country and its people. Nation First - Always!" they concluded.

This position aligns with that of the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), a non-governmental film workers' association, which has enforced the ban on Pakistani artists.

Statements from Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane

On Saturday, lead actor Harshvardhan Rane shared a post on Instagram stating, "While I'm grateful for the experience, in light of the recent statements made about my country, I've decided to respectfully decline any involvement in Sanam Teri Kasam Part 2 if the original cast is to return."

His message was a direct response to Mawra Hocane's comment on X, where she wrote, "Strongly condemn India's cowardly attack on Pakistan... Innocent civilians have lost their lives... May Allah protect us all... May sense prevail... Ya Allah ho Ya Hafizo." Harshvardhan's post received widespread support on Reddit.

About 'Sanam Teri Kasam'

The romantic drama, directed and written by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru and produced by Deepak Mukut, marked the Hindi film debuts of Harshvardhan Rane and Mawra Hocane.

The film also featured Anurag Sinha, Manish Chaudhari, Murli Sharma, and Sudesh Berry. Although the film did not perform well during its initial release, it gained popularity over time and was re-released this February.

Unexpectedly, it surpassed several new releases and exceeded its original box office tally within two days. The re-release earned ₹53 crore globally, with ₹45 crore coming solely from the re-release.