Hit film Sanam Teri Kasam's India-Pakistan co-stars are now warring too

The Print

12-05-2025

'Fortunately, I have tolerance to overlook such attempts – but have zero tolerance for any attack on my nation's dignity,' he wrote on Instagram Stories.
New Delhi: Tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor have spilled over into the relationship between actor Harshvardhan Rane and his Pakistani co-star Mawra Hocane. The stars of the 2016 film Sanam Teri Kasam have been taking potshots at each other on social media—the latest being Rane's response to Hocane calling his decision to opt out of the sequel a 'PR strategy'. Rane, on Sunday evening, immediately hit back, defending his decision.
'An Indian farmer would pluck out the unwanted weed from his crop. It's called weeding, the farmer doesn't need a PR team for this act, it's called common sense,' he wrote. Rane added that he was well within his rights to choose not to work with individuals who label his country's actions as 'cowardly'.
Earlier on Saturday, Rane announced he would opt out of the Sanam Teri Kasam sequel if the same cast was brought on board. He did not name Hocane directly but alluded to her being the reason for his exit.
'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,' the actor wrote on Instagram.
The popular Pakistani actor derided him for this comment.
'While our nations are at war, this is what you come up with? A PR statement to get attention? What a pity!' she wrote on her Instagram Story.
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'Hate in her speech'
When India launched Operation Sindoor on 7 May, many Pakistani actors popular in India, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Mawra Hocane, expressed their anger on social media.
'Strongly condemn India's cowardly attack on Pakistan… Innocent civilians have lost their lives. May Allah protect us all… may sense prevail,' Hocane wrote on Instagram on 8 May, after which her account was restricted in India. Her statement prompted directors Vinay Sapru and Radhika Rao to react strongly too, expressing their disappointment at her condemnation of India and deciding to drop her from the project.
The characters, played by Hocane and Rane, had been popular despite the film's poor box office performance in 2016. The romantic drama earned only Rs 8 crore at the box office. However, it redeemed itself in a re-release in February 2025, making Rs 56 crore. Fans also started asking for a sequel, which made the filmmakers announce a possible next film.
Rane did not take Hocane's comments lightly and criticised her choice of words. 'So much hate in her speech, so many personal remarks. I never mentioned her name or resorted to calling her names. Didn't attack her dignity as a woman. I intend to maintain that standard,' he said on Instagram.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), a non-governmental film workers' body, has decided to bar Pakistani actors from acting in Bollywood in the future. The release of the upcoming film, Abir Gulal, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, has also been put on hold indefinitely.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)