Atif, Fawad and ‘Raees 2’: Indian fans hope to see Pakistani artists back in Bollywood

Until seven years ago, Pakistan and India’s thriving cultural exchange sustained the hopes of many in art’s propensity for harmony. From Atif Aslam reaching new heights of fame with his Bollywood portfolio to the legendary Naseeruddin Shah’s role in the 2007 Shoaib Mansoor film Khuda Kay Liye, it was customary to see artists advocate for cordial ties between the neighbouring countries. 

Following the 2016 attack on the Indian army base in Uri, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) issued a ban on Pakistani actors and technicians in India, holding Pakistan responsible for the incident, putting an end to many successful partnerships. 

Recently, the Bombay High Court dismissed a legal petition urging the Indian government to prohibit any professional associations with artists from Pakistan, according to Livemint. The court's decision emphasized that implementing such a ban would be a regressive step in the promotion of cultural harmony and unity, both within India and in relations with Pakistan.

The ban’s reversal has driven cross-border fans to social media in anticipation of future collaborations between the two countries. Fans of renowned singer Atif Aslam, whose repertoire has too often provided a musical backdrop to Bollywood’s romance and heartbreak, are especially thrilled to see the artist’s return. 

“Atif Aslam is coming back?” exclaimed one user on X. “Atif Aslam, come back to Bollywood, the kids miss you!” wrote a fan in all uppercase while another demanded an “Atif Aslam and Shreya Ghoshal collab.”

Fawad Khan is another Pakistani star with an undeniably mass appeal across the border and for good reason. Sporting a boyish charm and impressive acting talent, Khan solidified his status as an artist of merit who is more than just pretty looks. Unsurprisingly, many Indian fans await the return of the Kapoor and Sons actor with one fan sharing his pictures with Deepika Padukone, asking everyone concerned to “make this happen.” 

A post on X spoke for all “Fawad girlies,” expressing the fandom’s joy via animated meme reactions. “Cannot wait on Fawad’s comeback! It’ll be crazy!” predicted one fan amid the piling quote tweets and fan edits. 

“If I get a movie with Shah Rukh Khan and Fawad, I’ll start believing in God again,” another X user claimed. The two iconic Khans sharing a screen together appeared to be a popular demand among the audience. “Shah Rukh Khan and Fawad in a movie together can heal the world, just by the way!”

Indian fans also expressed hope to see Mahira Khan cast alongside Shah Rukh once again, recalling the duo’s sizzling on-screen romance in the 2017 film Raees. “When can we get them back again for another movie because their chemistry was too good!” read one comment while others speculated if a Raees 2 could be in the works soon.