logo
Pankaj Tripathi talks about whether Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan should be allowed in Indian cinema or not. Read to find out!

Pankaj Tripathi talks about whether Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan should be allowed in Indian cinema or not. Read to find out!

Time of India06-05-2025

Fawad Khan
had been long awaiting his return to the world of
Bollywood
, and just when he was about to return after 2016 with the film '
Abir Gulaal
', all hell broke loose. The recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people has sparked major outrage across the nation. Authorities have taken heavy measures to ensure the safety of the country's citizens and the nation's security as well.
The film may not be released in India as of right now
Due to the recent attack, a major crackdown is being done on Pakistani media platforms. The government banned more than 18 Pakistani channels on a popular video streaming platform as well. Due to this, it was also indirectly confirmed that 'Abir Gulaal' may not be released on screen in India as of right now, as shared by a report from News18.
Pankaj Tripathi on whether Pakistani actors should be allowed to work in Indian cinema or not
In a recent interview from the same report, actor Pankaj Tripathi talked about Pahalgam and shared his opinion on the matter. He shared, I was sad and upset and angry. It saddens me. I feel angry about it. I also feel helpless sometimes.' When asked about whether there is any future for Pakistani actors in the country, he shared that he is not the best person to share anything about the matter. He stated that 'I think I am not the authority to decide anything. Authorities must decide; we have a board for it. They must make a decision.'
The landscape of Indian cinema regarding Pakistani actors
While generally the participation of Pakistani actors in
Indian cinema
was well received, with the likes of Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan,
Ali Zafar
, and Imran Abbas all releasing projects in India. In light of the recent event of the
terror attack
in Pahalgam as well as the Uri terror attack, there has been an indefinite ban on Pakistani actors.
Organisations like the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) had announced this ban earlier that year. A petition was filed to formalise the ban, and while it was rejected in 2023 by the Bombay High Court, an unofficial stoppage has always been in place.
Fawad's previous projects in India
Fawad
Khan
has been one of the most popular Pakistani actors in Indian cinema. Previously, Khan worked on three separate projects in India, all of which became popular wonders in the world of cinema. First, he worked in 'Khoobsurat' in 2014 alongside Sonam Kapoor. Next, he worked in 'Kapoor & Sons' alongside Alia Bhatt and
Sidharth Malhotra
and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Rabir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2016.
His recent projects
Recently, Tripathi has been chosen as the brand ambassador for the brand 'Euro Adhesives'. In relation to the new collaboration, he was asked why he chose to work with this brand, to which he gave an insightful answer.
He shared that 'I am very selective with regard to brand associations because I have my own values. Therefore, when they approached me, I did my research and realised that they are very similar to me. They also started small and are big today. We met and joined hands. This will be a strong bond, like the one I have with my audience."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘What wrong is Deepika demanding?': Kajol and Rani did 8-hour shifts too, says director Siddharth P. Malhotra as Bollywood debate heats up
‘What wrong is Deepika demanding?': Kajol and Rani did 8-hour shifts too, says director Siddharth P. Malhotra as Bollywood debate heats up

Economic Times

time39 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

‘What wrong is Deepika demanding?': Kajol and Rani did 8-hour shifts too, says director Siddharth P. Malhotra as Bollywood debate heats up

Agencies Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Spirit over her request for an eight-hour workday has reignited debate on humane work hours in Indian cinema. Director Siddharth P Malhotra defended her stance, citing past examples like Rani Mukerji and Kajol who also worked limited shifts post-motherhood. Last month, reports broke that Deepika Padukone had stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's much-anticipated Telugu cop drama Spirit . The reason? Her request for an eight-hour workday. The demand, made just eight months after the birth of her daughter Dua Padukone, sparked debate across the industry and social media, with many questioning whether actors should dictate such terms in big-budget productions. Now, director Siddharth P Malhotra has come out in her support, pointing out that such working conditions are not only reasonable but have long existed in the industry. Speaking to IANS, Malhotra recalled wrapping his 2018 film Hichki —starring Rani Mukerji—in just 28 eight-hour shifts. The film, produced by Aditya Chopra under Yash Raj Films, marked Rani's return to the screen after giving birth to her daughter Adira in 2015. 'For 14 months, I have been there in front of her face. So I kept asking myself, 'Is it going to be worth it?'' Rani had shared in a past interview, reflecting on her emotional struggle as a new mother rejoining work. But Malhotra confirmed the working hours were kept tight and clear. 'She's asking for family time, what wrong is she demanding?' he asked bluntly. 'People are just gaining publicity in the name of Deepika Padukone.' Malhotra also pointed to his debut film We Are Family (2010), in which lead actor Kajol, a mother herself at the time, insisted on fixed working hours. 'When I shot with Kajol in 2010, she used to do eight-hour shifts. She made it very clear she'd either come from 10 am to 6 pm or 7 am to 2 pm,' he said, underscoring that the practice predates the current noise around Deepika's decision. Kajol recently echoed this sentiment to PTI, stating, 'I didn't work for 20 or 30 hours. I was always very clear that we would work a certain amount only, and my mom (veteran actor Tanuja) also backed me up big time on it.' Malhotra believes that directors should match their production plans with the availability of their actors—especially when such conditions are set transparently from the outset. 'If Deepika Padukone has made these conditions clear right from the start, then the director shouldn't work with her if it doesn't suit them,' he said. 'If I need an actor and am confident I can finish the film within those working hours, I'd work with them even for six hours a day.' He added that if Vanga's vision for Spirit required longer working hours, he was within his rights to recast. And that's exactly what has happened: Vanga has now brought Animal star Triptii Dimri on board as the lead opposite Prabhas in the film. While the industry is known for grueling shifts and punishing timelines, the conversation sparked by Padukone's stance opens a new chapter—one that addresses work-life balance, especially for women returning to work post-motherhood.

MS Dhoni shares exciting moment daughter Ziva receives Lionel Messi's signed Argentina jersey
MS Dhoni shares exciting moment daughter Ziva receives Lionel Messi's signed Argentina jersey

Time of India

time44 minutes ago

  • Time of India

MS Dhoni shares exciting moment daughter Ziva receives Lionel Messi's signed Argentina jersey

MS Dhoni shares exciting moment daughter Ziva receives Lionel Messi's signed Argentina jersey (Image via Getty) Mahendra Singh Dhoni's daughter got a wonderful gift this week. The unique moment between two sportspeople of different sports made cricket and football fans ecstatic as the photo went viral on social media. A photo of MS Dhoni 's daughter, Ziva Singh Dhoni, wearing an autographed Argentina jersey that Lionel Messi had gifted her, went viral on 22 June 2025. This sweet gesture united three big names- MS Dhoni, Lionel Messi and little Ziva- and became viral in no time on social media. MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva Singh Dhoni receives Lionel Messi's autographed Argentina jersey MS Dhoni's daughter, Ziva, is once again breaking the internet, and this time, not for anything that features her, but because it relates to two of the most loved sports personalities in the world. In a latest update posted on her official Instagram account operated by her parents MS Dhoni and Sakshi Dhoni, Ziva can be seen wearing a Jersey of the Argentina national football team. It was autographed by Lionel Messi, with a message penned in Spanish — 'Para Ziva,' which translated to 'For Ziva. ' This Lionel Messi signed Argentina shirt has been personally donated by Leo Messi and so it's a rather unique gift. The jersey has since gone viral among fans who were moved by the sweet gesture between Messi and Dhoni's family. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo The moment was shared on various platforms including Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, and garnered thousands of likes and comments. The post mentioned how Ziva has inherited the love for football from her father MS Dhoni. A: Dhoni, the retired Indian cricket captain, is fan of football. He is also the co-owner of Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). His backing of Lionel Messi is no secret and this present now adds to the respect they obviously hold for one another as two of the planet's biggest sports stars. MS Dhoni and Lionel Messi connect through daughter Ziva's viral moment Ziva Singh Dhoni's viral photo featuring an autographed Argentina shirt by Lionel Messi has delighted cricket and football lovers alike. Additionally sharing the picture on her story, MS Dhoni's wife, Sakshi Dhoni, got even more attention. Many internet users have praised Messi's warm and simple gesture. After Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Lionel Messi reportedly signed the shirt. Reportedly, Messi autographed multiple jerseys for renowned Indian sports stars including BCCI executives and legends like Dhoni at the time. Among Lionel Messi and MS Dhoni, this classic present to Ziva stands apart as a great show of respect. Follow all the live updates, scores, and highlights from the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here

US man's Bharatanatyam fusion to Chhalka Chhalka Re is a masterclass in elegance
US man's Bharatanatyam fusion to Chhalka Chhalka Re is a masterclass in elegance

India Today

timean hour ago

  • India Today

US man's Bharatanatyam fusion to Chhalka Chhalka Re is a masterclass in elegance

A video of a man from the United States showing his elegant Bharatanatyam fusion performance to Chhalka Chhalka Re from the 2002 Bollywood film Saathiya has delighted the internet. The performer, Alex Wong, shared the now-viral video in a post on Instagram, where he was seen gracefully syncing classical Indian dance steps to the lively rhythm of the Hindi track. advertisementCheered on by the audience, Wong executed the steps with remarkable poise, leaving the viewers impressed and a little stunned as well. 'This was my first Bharatanatyam fusion class,' Wong wrote in the caption, adding, 'I found it difficult to coordinate the specific and traditional hands and footwork - it was like learning a new language! Thank you @ for the wonderful class!!'Watch the video here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alex Wong (@alexdwong)Social media users flooded the comments section of the post to express their admiration for Wong's performance. Several Indian classical dance lovers and casual viewers couldn't hold themselves back from commenting. A section of the internet praised Wong's attention to detail and his willingness to step into unfamiliar an Indian classical danseuse – your performance was near flawless,' read one of the top comments. Another user said, 'Wow! Such grace and expressions! You are doing great, and I couldn't say it is just your entry into Bharatanatyam!'One of the users also praised his openness to explore new cultures through dance: 'Incredible that you branch out to other styles from different cultures! So inspiring.'See the comments here:It is safe to say that Alex Wong's video now stands as yet another example of how Indian classical dance continues to find new admirers, even miles away from Watch

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store