On Saturday, the Federation of Western lndia Cine Employees (FWICE) wrote a letter to Kartik Aaryan over attending an event which is being organised by a Pakistani-owned restaurant. The event titled Azadi Utsav - The lndian Independence Day will take place in Houston, USA, on August 15, 2025. Along with the letter, FWICE has also shared a poster of the event featuring Kartik.
In the letter, FWICE has written, “It is with a sense of deep concern and responsibility that the Federation of Western lndia Cine Employees (FWICE) brings to your notice a matter involving your scheduled participation in an event titled Azadi Utsav - The lndian Independence Day to be held in Houston, USA, on 15th August 2025. As per the attached poster, you are being featured as the lead guest for this celebration. While such events are a source of pride and cultural expression for lndians abroad, we regret to inform you that this specific program is being organized by a Pakistani-owned restaurant, Aga's Restaurant and Catering, owned by Mr. Shaukat Maredia.”
In the letter, they have also mentioned that the same restaurant is organising an event on August 14, 2025, to celebrate Pakistan’s Independence Day.
The letter also reads, "We believe you may not have been fully aware of the organizers' background or affiliations. lf so, we strongly urge you to immediately withdraw your participation from this event. However, if you were aware, it becomes a matter of even greater concern - and we expect a clarification and immediate distancing from such associations.”
FWICE’s Letter To Singer Javed Ali
Meanwhile, Singer Javed Ali is going to be a part of a concert in Dubai on August 31, 2025, in which Pakistani artists Ustad Ghulam Ali and Aamir Ghulam Ali are also performing. So, FWICE has also sent a letter to him.
The letter reads, “We wish to remind you that your participation in this event stands in direct violation of the clear and long-standing directives issued by FWIGE and the Ministry of lnformation & Broadcasting, Government of lndia, which strictly prohibit any collaboration with Pakistani artists. These directives are grounded in national interest and were put in place in view of the continuous and unprovoked acts of terrorism carried out by Pakistan, targeting innocent lndian lives.”
They concluded the letter by writing, “We hope you will take this matter with the seriousness it demands and act in a manner befitting your responsibility as an lndian artist.”
