The Instagram accounts of several Pakistani celebs, including Mawra Hocane, Yumna Zaidi, Danish Taimoor, and others, have been banned once again in India, days after the ban was lifted and the profiles were accessible in the country. While the government did not release an official order on the re-ban, netizens were left confused over the turn of events.
It was in May when the social media handles of all Pakistani actors, sportspersons, diplomats, and other celebs were banned in India, following the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam and India's Operation Sindoor in retaliation. However, on July 1, netizens noticed how the accounts of Mawra, Yumna and other celebs were visible in India again, which made people wonder if the ban was getting lifted in phases.
But by Thursday morning, the accounts were found to be blocked again in India. "Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content," the message on their Instagram pages flashed.
According to a report in News18, an emergency internal review was held post which the government decided to ban the social media accounts again.
An official statement is yet to be issued on the matter.
Ban on Pakistani artists
Meanwhile, Indian film bodies have unanimously also decided to ban collaborations with Pakistani artists in any form post the Pahalgam attack. While Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan's film, Abir Gulaal, which was scheduled to release in May 2025, never saw the light of the day, singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh has been at the receiving end of backlash for the past few days for sharing the screen with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3.
However, Diljit said that the film was shot and completed before the Pahalgam attack, and the producers could not afford to lose the money invested, thus the film only released overseas.
