May 12, 2025: In a quiet but telling development, Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane’s image has been digitally removed from the music album covers of the 2016 romantic film Sanam Teri Kasam, where she starred opposite Indian actor Harshvardhan Rane. This change, now visible on popular streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music, comes amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan.
On Monday, fans and observers noticed that while Harshvardhan Rane remains on the poster art of the film’s album, Mawra Hocane is no longer featured. Her removal appears to be part of a broader trend in the Indian entertainment industry — the quiet erasure of Pakistani talent from visible promotional content, particularly in times of political tension.
Responding to the development, the film’s producer Deepak Mukut claimed he was unaware of the change. “They didn’t ask me, it’s their decision. Whatever our government says, everyone has to follow,” he said. Actor Harshvardhan Rane, in his reaction, added pointedly, “Now they will say that my PR team got this done! No, it’s again common sense I assume, weeding is being exercised.”
This is not an isolated case. A similar erasure has been noted in the music album of Raees (2017), where Pakistani actress Mahira Khan starred alongside Shah Rukh Khan in the song Zaalima. On platforms like YouTube and Spotify, Mahira no longer appears in the visual covers — only SRK is featured.
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The move is being interpreted as part of a larger crackdown on Pakistani artists in Indian media following the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam and India’s strong retaliatory stance. In the wake of escalating border conflicts, there have been reports of bans on Pakistani content across various streaming and OTT platforms in India.
While no official directive has been made public regarding the removal of images from music platforms, the shift signals the Indian entertainment industry’s increasing sensitivity to public and political sentiment in volatile times.