Your Privacy is Important to us

We encourage you to review our Terms of Service, and Privacy Policy.

By continuing, you agree to the Terms listed here. In case you want to opt out, please click "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link in the footer of this page.

Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information

We won't sell or share your personal information to inform the ads you see. You may still see interest-based ads if your information is sold or shared by other companies or was sold or shared previously.

Continue on TOI App
Open App
Login for better experience!
Login Now
Welcome! to timesofindia.com
TOI INDTOI USTOI GCC
TOI+
  • Home
  • Live
  • TOI Games
  • Top Headlines
  • India
  • City News
  • Photos
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Entertainment
  • Movie Reviews
  • Lifestyle
  • Podcasts
  • Elections
  • Web Series
  • Sports
  • TV
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Events
  • World
  • Music
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • Tech
  • Auto
  • Education
  • Log Out
Follow Us On
Open App
  • ETIMES
  • CINEMA
  • VIDEOS
  • TV
  • LIFESTYLE
  • VISUAL STORIES
  • MUSIC
  • TRAVEL
  • FOOD
  • TRENDING
  • EVENTS
  • THEATRE
  • PHOTOS
  • MOVIE REVIEWS
  • MOVIE LISTINGS
  • HEALTH
  • RELATIONSHIP
  • WEB SERIES
  • BOX OFFICE

Mahira Khan to Veena Malik: Pakistani actors who ran into controversies

TNN | Last updated on - Aug 29, 2018, 17:37 IST
Comments
Share
1/8

Pakistani actress Meera lashes out against ‘Raees’ star Mahira Khan

After acting in Hindi films like ‘Nazar’ and ‘Kasak’, Pakistani actress Meera is all set to give Bollywood another go and she is eager to release her film ‘Simran’ in India and Pakistan, but she hasn’t received a visa for India yet. Currently in Dubai, Meera interacted with NavbharatTimes.com and said that her fellow Pakistani actress Mahira Khan’s statements against India made it incredibly difficult for Pakistani artists to obtain an Indian visa.

Meera said that her film ‘Simran’ is ready for a release in India, but for the lack of an Indian visa, she can’t get her film released in the country. The actress revealed that she returned to Pakistan after completing her shoot in India, and soon after Mahira Khan made some statements which resulted in a worsening of Indo-Pak relations, which also in turn resulted in making it hard for Pakistani artists to obtain Indian visas.

Commenting on Shah Rukh Khan’s co-star from ‘Raees’, Meera said that SRK cast her in his film, but Mahira wasn’t worthy of it. “Mahira worked in the film and she started saying poorly about India in Pakistan. When I was working in India, I spoke positively about the relations between the two countries and I highlighted the good things. But Mahira has no class, she kept on speaking against India.”

She added, “When I went to the embassy, officials speak about Mahira’s statements and we are denied a visa. I only request that I should not be denied a visa due to what she says. I appeal Shah Rukh Khan to help us. He may have cast her in his film, but he did not teach her class and sophistication on how to speak to the media. I apologize for Mahira’s mistakes and I request artists and films to have friendly relations between the two nations.”

2/8

Mahira Khan slams Twitterati for ridiculing Javed Sheikh, says she would vouch for him always

Not very long ago, at an award function, an incident involving Mahira Khan and Javed Sheikh caused a rage on the internet. A video of Mahira ignoring senior Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh’s attempt to give her a peck on her cheek on being honoured with an award went viral. Post that incident, Twitterati called Javed names and went on a character assassination spree.

However, Mahira came to Javed’s rescue when she slammed them all with her tweet that read, “I have just woken up to such silly stuff floating around. It’s good to be aware and have an opinion but for God’s sake don’t use anything and everything to make news. Javed Sheikh of all people! He is a legend and a mentor to all of us in this industry. Would vouch for him always”
3/8

Mahira Khan to Veena Malik: Pakistani actors who ran into controversies

There has always been trouble between India and Pakistan but the artists from both the nations have time and again crossed the borders for career prospects or spreading peace. While Fawad Khan has a huge fan-following in India, many other Pak actors and singers have featured in several Bollywood films like Saba Qamar in ‘Hindi Medium’ and Mahira Khan in ‘Raees’. However, there have been instances when the popular artists from the neighbouring country have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Here's a list of Pakistani actors who ran into controversies.
4/8

Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan recently made front-page headlines as her pictures with Bollywood heartthrob Ranbir Kapoor went viral. The Pakistani actress, dressed in a backless dress, was seen smoking a cigarette and was trolled badly on social networking website but what created a storm was her linkup with the B-town A-lister. Mahira is a single mother of one and was last seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Raees’ this year. Her role in the film was highly opposed due to the tension between the two countries, and there were demands to replace her as well. However, she managed to finish the shoot with SRK in Dubai and even did a video press conference with as part of the film’s promotions.
5/8

Fawad Khan

Fawad Khan is extremely popular in India, especially among the ladies. The Pakistani hunk was last seen romancing Anushka Sharma in ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ but the actor found himself amid a huge controversy post the Uri attacks that escalated the Indo-Pak tension. While producer Karan Johar faced the wrath of the public and was pressurized to replace him from the film and re-shoot his scenes with another actor, Fawad was himself not allowed to come to India for the film’s promotions. The screening of the film was threatened to be stalled as Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) itself decided that no films starring any Pakistani actors will be released in theatres.
6/8

Saba Qamar

Pakistani actress Saba Qamar made her Bollywood debut this year opposite Irrfan Khan in ‘Hindi Medium’ which was praised by the critics and the moviegoers alike. However, a 2015 TV snippet of the actress presented a very controversial side to the actress. The diva had made fun of Bollywood actors on a chat show where she candidly turned down multiple actors in hypothetical situations. If Hrithik were to ask her to marry him, how would Saba refuse? To this, she answers, "Who is going to marry the father of two kids!!" The host then shows her a photo of Emraan Hashmi, and asks her to say 'no' to a film with him. "I don't want oral cancer!" comes Saba's reply. A photo of Ritesh Deshmukh follows. Saba said, "Look, I'm an A-list actress in Pakistan. I work with only A-listers."
7/8

Veena Malik

Pakistani actress Veena Malik, who is now an anchor on a Pakistani news channel, recently made news for calling Indian prime minister Narendra Modi “a snake” in the backdrop of his historical meet with Israel Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She also called India and Israel ‘evil nations’ who are destroying the Muslim race. Veena Malik shot to fame with her appearance on the reality TV show ‘Bigg Boss’. The struggling actor had then made headlines for her heated in-house alleged affair with Indian actor Ashmit Patel. Though she married Pakistani businessman Asad Bashir Khan Khattak some time ago, the two got separated three years later and have two children together.
8/8

Meera

Exert a bit more on your nerves and you may remember Pakistani actress Meera who made her bold Bollywood debut with Hindi film ‘Nazar’ in 2005 which had Bollywood actor Ashmit Patel as the male lead. The actress was part of a huge controversy when a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against her for her "illegal and un-Islamic marriage" as petitioner Attiquer Rehman claimed to be her first husband and accused her of marrying someone else without divorcing him.

Start a Conversation

Post comment
Featured In Entertainment
  • 'Bandar' song 'Pinjara' out: Bobby Deol’s dating chaos unfolds
  • Sonakshi blunts nepotism debate: 'That's how the world works'
  • Imtiaz Ali on fans quitting corporate jobs after watching 'Tamasha'
  • Asha on how 'Suno Sajna' was difficult to lip sync
  • 'Kattalan' actor Raj Tirandasu on filming with real elephants
  • Steven Spielberg's ‘Disclosure Day’ early reviews
  • ‘Blast’ Twitter review: Fans call Arjun Sarja’s action drama 'PURE MASS'
  • Matthew Perry’s mother attends Kenneth Iwamasa’s sentencing
  • Emma Myers: '3 Idiots' and 'Baahubali' are my favourite films- WATCH
Photostories
  • ‘That’s someone’s monthly salary’: Internet shocked by Rs 1.1 lakh rent for Bengaluru 3BHK
  • From Ajay Jadeja’s palatial heritage bungalow to Hardik Pandya’s luxury penthouse: Indian cricketers who own lavish crore-worth homes in Gujarat
  • Not just thirst: 3 unusual signs of dehydration, NHS doctor explains
  • Neena Gupta's high-protein Tori and Paneer Sabzi is perfect for gut health during summer months
  • ​Is Botox safe anymore? UKHSA issues warning after suspected botulism cases: 5 things to keep in mind while getting beauty jabs​
  • Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's home is a cosy mid-century abode with a flush of quirks: Art inspirations to take away
  • Success quote of the day by Chanakya: “A person should not be too honest..."
  • The Microsoft interview question that nearly stumped Satya Nadella: Could you answer it?
  • 10 house names believed to attract wealth, prosperity and positive energy
Explore more Stories
  • 6
    All about Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston’s bond: From acquaintances, to co-workers, and lifelong friends
  • 6
    From MBBS to movies: Sai Pallavi, Sreeleela and other south actresses chose cinema over medicine
  • 5
    Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift date nights at sports games: All about their loud cheers and sequin smiles
  • 8
    Varun Dhawan's ‘Chunnari Chunnari’, Kiara Advani's ‘Cheez Badi’ to Jacqueline's ‘Ek Do Teen’ : Bollywood song remakes that failed to impress audiences
  • 6
    Ranveer Singh, Helena Bonham Carter, Johnny Depp: Actors' exits from films and web series that sparked controversy
Up Next
  • ETimes
  • /
  • Entertainment
  • /
  • Hindi
  • /
  • Bollywood
  • /
  • Mahira Khan to Veena Malik: Pakistani actors who ran into controversies
About UsTerms Of UsePrivacy PolicyCookie Policy

Copyright © May 28, 2026, 02.05PM IST Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service