Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane’s Instagram accessible again in India amid ongoing restrictions on other artists

Mawra Hocane’s Instagram profile has recently become accessible to users in India after being blocked for several months due to rising India-Pakistan tensions. While fans can now view Mawra’s account, other Pakistani celebrities like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Atif Aslam, and Fawad Khan still have their Instagram profiles restricted and unavailable in the country.

Rise to Fame in India

The actress became well-known in India after her role in the 2016 Bollywood movie 'Sanam Teri Kasam' opposite Harshvardhan Rane. However, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam this April, which claimed 26 lives, India-Pakistan relations declined. As a result, the Indian government imposed a ban on Pakistani artists and blocked their Instagram accounts within the country.

Government Advisory on Pakistani Content

The Indian government has directed OTT platforms, streaming services, and digital intermediaries to immediately remove all content from Pakistan. This includes movies, web series, music, and podcasts. The advisory refers to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, emphasizing that content threatening India’s sovereignty and integrity must be avoided by publishers.

Mawra’s Removal from Sanam Teri Kasam 2

Later, Mawra was eventually dropped from the cast of 'Sanam Teri Kasam 2'. Harshvardhan Rane took to Instagram to express his stance, stating that he would not be part of the sequel if the original cast was retained. He shared, “While I am grateful for the experience however as things stand, and after reading the direct comments made about my country, I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’ part 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated.”