Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane dropped from ‘Sanam Teri Kasam 2’ after remarks on Operation Sindoor-OxBig News Network

Lead actors Mawra Hocane and Harshvardhan Rane in ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane has been removed from the upcoming sequel to Sanam Teri Kasam following her criticism of India’s military action under Operation Sindoor. The decision was announced by the film’s directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, who issued a joint statement citing national interest and the importance of condemning terrorism unequivocally.

The statement read, “The nation comes before everything else. We support our government and our armed forces. Terrorism in any form must be condemned.” The filmmakers also expressed disappointment that an actor once embraced by Indian audiences chose to publicly criticise the country’s actions in response to a terror attack.

Hocane, who made her Bollywood debut with Sanam Teri Kasam in 2016, had posted on social media: “Strongly condemn India’s cowardly attack on Pakistan… Innocent civilians have lost their lives. May Allah protect us all… may sense prevail.” Her remarks came after India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed several civilians.

Actor Harshvardhan Rane, who starred opposite Hocane in the original film, had earlier announced he would not return for the sequel if she remained involved. On Instagram, he wrote: “I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated.” Rane also called Hocane’s comments “unpardonable.”

With mounting backlash and industry pressure, the producers decided to remove Hocane from the project. Although there have been rumors about Shraddha Kapoor replacing her, no official casting announcement has been made.

The All Indian Cine Workers Association also reiterated its longstanding ban on Pakistani artists, calling on the Indian film industry to “prioritize national pride over cross-border collaborations.”

Sanam Teri Kasam, originally released in 2016, recently found renewed success with a theatrical re-release, leading to the greenlighting of its sequel.