Mawra Hocane’s performance in Sydney CANCELLED, courtsey ban on Pakistani artists

After Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, Mawra Hocane is the latest Pakistani artist to have fallen prey to the controversy surrounding the ban on Pakistani artists.

Just when we thought that the debate around banning Pakistani artists in India had mellowed down a little, here comes yet another shocker. After Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan, Pakistani actress Mawara Hocane is the latest actor to have fallen prey to the controversies surrounding the ban on Pakistani artists. Mawra, who made her Bollywood debut this year with Sanam Teri Kasam has been stopped to performing at a Himesh Reshammiya concert in Sydney, Australia. A Mumbai Mirror report states that the show which was supposed to be held in Australia on October 15 had Kheech Meri Photo singer Akasa Singh performing in Sydney and Melbourne. The show organiser Vvikas Paul said that he was approached by Hocane who asked if she could share the stage with Akasa. He said, “When Mawra saw the publicity posters, she approached me two days prior to the show, asking if she could share the stage with Akasa to perform on her song. We thought it was a good idea but Rakeshji (Rakesh Upadhyay, Himesh’s business partner) insisted that they didn’t want her on the stage so I politely declined her offer. I think she understood why it happened.“

Rakesh confirmed the news, saying, “We have worked with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in Namastey London and in Bodyguard but owing to the current situation, the country comes first for us. Mawra tried to reach out to me too but I ignored her. I informed Himesh and he agreed with the decision.”

While the ban on Pakistani artists has already created a rift in the country and the film industry too, it looks like not just India but other countries too are reacting to the ban. The ban comes in the wake of Uri attack that happened last month when 19 Indian soldiers lost their lives battling terroists. Last month, Shafqat Amanat Ali and Atif Aslam’s concerts were canceled in India due to the protests by MNS who warned the Pakistani actors to go back to their country. Following which, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) also condemned Pakistani artists on the same lines. “In IMPPA we have not banned Pakistani actors but we have told the producers that any producer who had already made the movie, then their movies should be released and they should make new movies only when India Pakistan relations get better,” said president T.P. Aggarwal.
While actors like Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra have come out in open and supported Pakistani artists, some like Randeep Hooda and Anupam Kher have maintained that India shouldn’t entertain any talent from outside the country.