Bollywood to release another ‘anti-Pakistan’ film, this time starring Sidharth Malhotra

'Mission Majnu' will apparently depict ‘India’s covert operation that derailed Pakistan’s illicit nuclear ambitions.’

Some narratives are a Bollywood constant, and those involving spies, surgical strikes and cricket against Pakistan seem to be our neighbouring cinema’s favourite!

So following in the footsteps of Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, Student of the Year’s Sidharth Malhotra has taken the wheel, or reel, responsible for perpetuating chauvinistic sentiments and Indo-Pak hatred among Indian viewers.

Revealing a still from his upcoming film Mission Majnu on Tuesday, Sidharth had tweeted, “Get ready to be a part of India’s greatest covert operation that derailed Pakistan’s illicit Nuclear Ambitions!” He went on to specify that the film was “inspired by real events,” and is releasing on May 13, 2022.

Talking about the film set in the 1970s, Sidharth had earlier told PTI, “This is a film inspired by true events. It’s about an important mission that RAW did. It is more of a thriller than action. This is the first time I am playing a spy agent but it is not a James Bond character.”

Malhotra added, “I am somebody who keeps manipulating people to get information out. In that manipulation, I got an opportunity to play various shades that I had not in the past. It’s a tone and world that is completely fresh. I have not done a period film before. It was a new experience.” Mission Majnu, is produced by Ronnie Screwvala of RSVP, Amar Butala and Garima Mehta.

There has been a steady rise in Bollywood film productions which often overtly or covertly portray an anti-Pakistan sentiment. One such film released in August, Bhuj: The Pride of India, which stars Ajay Devgan in the lead role, ironically features a rendition of Madam Noor Jehan’s iconic song Zaalima CocaCola.

Films portraying an anti-Pakistan narrative gained traction after the Uri attacks in 2016. Uri: The Surgical Strike, starring Vicky Kaushal was one of the first military inspired films showing Pakistan in a negative light. While Akshay Kumar’s spy thriller Bell Bottom, inspired by the hijackings of Indian Airline flights in the 80s, was banned from screening in KSA, Kuwait and Qatar. The countries in question deemed the film to be unfit for exhibition.