Rahul Dholakia, Director of Raees, Poses the Question: Is it Time for Pakistani Actors to Return to Bollywood as Pakistani Cricketers Arrive?

 

Rahul Dholakia, Director of Raees, Poses the Question: Is it Time for Pakistani Actors to Return to Bollywood as Pakistani Cricketers Arrive?

Rahul Dholakia's Call for Collaboration Between Indian and Pakistani Artists as Pakistani Cricketers Visit India

In a significant turn of events, Pakistani cricketers touched down in India after a hiatus of seven years. Their arrival was in preparation for the upcoming ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, known for his work on "Raees," seized the moment to express his thoughts, sparking discussions about the potential for collaboration between artists from both neighboring nations once again.

Taking to social media, Rahul Dholakia questioned, "Now that Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films? Or musicians to perform?" This inquiry opened up a dialogue about the possibilities of transcending political boundaries for the sake of art and cultural exchange.

Rahul Dholakia's connection to this topic is notably tied to his film "Raees," which featured Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and marked the Hindi film debut of Pakistani actor Mahira Khan. Unfortunately, due to the prevailing ban on Pakistani artists in India following the Uri terror attack, Mahira Khan was unable to promote the movie within the country at the time.

Reflecting on the situation in 2017, Mahira Khan expressed in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, "Whether it was Shah Rukh Khan, Ritesh Batra, Farhan Akhtar, or Rahul, they all have been so amazing. It was important for Raees to be released and do well at the box office. At the end of the day, it's all about films, which is bigger than all of us combined."

Sharing a clip of Mahira Khan's interview, Rahul Dholakia expressed his admiration and regret over the situation, stating, "So sweet! Somewhere I feel we have wronged her. Our people forgot that she is an artiste, not the enemy! We took away her right as an actor! Unfair. Mahira Khan, you are wonderful and thank you for being a part of Raees."

The ban on Pakistani artists in Bollywood stemmed from the Uri attack in 2016 and was further reinforced after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019 when the All Indian Cine Workers Association called for a comprehensive boycott of Pakistani artists, musicians, and diplomats in the Indian entertainment industry.

Reflecting on this ban, Mahira Khan, in a 2021 interview with Film Companion, expressed her sadness, saying, "I guess, having experienced it firsthand, it’s just sad. When I think about it… I mean, we have all moved on. That’s what we do; if we don’t have this, we do something else. That’s what happens. But I feel like a great opportunity for the entire subcontinent to come together and collaborate was lost. I think it might happen again. Who knows?"

In light of recent events and changing dynamics, Rahul Dholakia's call for collaboration between Indian and Pakistani artists gains renewed significance, suggesting a potential rekindling of cultural ties between the two nations.