ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will start on October 5. Ahead of that, Pakistani cricketers arrived in India for the first time in seven years which has generated a lot of stir on social media. On Friday, 'Raees' director Rahul Dholakia took to his official X account and asked if the actors from the neighbouring country can also work in Hindi films.
Rahul Dholakia On Pak Team's Arrival In India
Dholakia wrote on X, “Now that Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films? Or musicians to perform?”
Now that #Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films ? Or Musicians to perform?
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) September 28, 2023
Back in 2017, director Rahul Dholakia helmed a film named 'Raees', with Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role. This movie marked the debut of Pakistani actor Mahira Khan in the Hindi film industry. Unfortunately, Mahira couldn't participate in promoting the film in India due to a ban on Pakistani artists in the country, which was imposed following a terrorist attack in Uri.
During that time, Mahira Sharma said in an interview with Bollywood Hungama, “Whether it was Shah Rukh Khan, Ritesh Batra, Farhan Akhtar or Rahul, they all have been so amazing. It was important for Raees to be released and do well at the box office. At the end of the day it's all about films, which is bigger than all of us combined.”
Rahul Dholakia had shared the clip on X in 2017 and tweeted, "So sweet! Somewhere I feel we have wronged her. Our people forgot that she is an artiste, not the enemy! We took away her right as an actor! Unfair. Mahira Khan, you are wonderful and thank you for being a part of Raees."