Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane’s Instagram account is now visible again in India, after being unavailable for the past few months. On Tuesday, many Indian users of the social media platform noticed that they could now access Mawra’s Instagram handle, which had earlier been blocked due to rising tensions between India and Pakistan. While her account has become visible once more, the accounts of other popular Pakistani celebrities like Mahira Khan, Hania Aamir, Atif Aslam, and Fawad Khan remain inaccessible in the country.

Mawra Hocane first gained popularity in India with her Bollywood debut in the 2016 romantic film Sanam Teri Kasam, where she starred opposite actor Harshvardhan Rane. The film gave her a strong fan following in India. However, after a tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in April 2025 that resulted in the death of 26 people, the political and cultural relationship between India and Pakistan worsened. In response, the Indian government imposed a complete ban on Pakistani artists working in the Indian entertainment industry. This also led to social media restrictions, including the blocking of Instagram profiles of several Pakistani stars.

mawra hocane instagram account

Mawra Hocane’s Instagram account is now visible again in India (Image: Instagram)

Pakistani Actors Ban In India

In addition to banning artists, the Indian government issued an advisory to OTT platforms and streaming services, asking them to immediately stop showcasing content from Pakistan. This included films, music videos, web series, and even podcasts. The advisory cited the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, which aim to prevent content that may harm India’s sovereignty or unity. Many platforms followed the instructions, and Pakistani content disappeared from various services available in India.

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Mawra Hocane Removed From Sanam Teri Kasam 2

Following the ban, Mawra was also dropped from Sanam Teri Kasam 2, the sequel to her hit film. Actor Harshvardhan Rane, who was set to return in the lead role, made it clear that he would not work in the film if the original cast was repeated. In a public statement on Instagram, he shared, “While I am grateful for the experience, I have decided to respectfully decline Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated.” His comments were in response to the tense political situation and public sentiment.

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Soon after, the film’s directors, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, confirmed that Mawra would not be part of the sequel. Speaking to Hindi Rush, they said, “Mawra definitely nahi hai.”