Sanam Teri Kasam Sequel Without Pakistani Actress Mawra Hocane? Director Confirms

May 15, 2025: The much-awaited sequel to the 2016 romantic hit Sanam Teri Kasam is once again in the headlines. While Harshvardhan Rane has confirmed his return to the franchise, speculation around the female lead has taken a definitive turn amid ongoing political tensions between India and Pakistan.

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Pakistani actress Mawra Hocane, who starred alongside Rane in the original film, was initially rumored to reprise her role. However, directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru have now confirmed that she will not be a part of the sequel. In an interview with Hindi Rush, Vinay said with a smile, “Mawra definitely nahi hai (Mawra is definitely not a part of it).”

The decision comes in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which has heightened tensions between the two countries. The longstanding unofficial ban on Pakistani artists in India has seemingly sealed Hocane’s fate regarding her return.

Adding to the controversy, it was recently reported that Mawra’s image has been digitally removed from the music covers of Sanam Teri Kasam on platforms like Spotify and YouTube Music. Reacting to the news, Harshvardhan Rane reposted a headline from a page called Litmus on Instagram that read, “Removed from the film that made her. Mawra Hocane erased by the nation she forgot to respect.” Rane captioned it, “…National weeding.”

In a more formal statement posted a few days earlier, Rane revealed that he had refused to be part of the sequel if the previous cast was being considered.

“While I am grateful for the experience… I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated,” he wrote.

With Mawra Hocane out, fans are now eagerly waiting to find out who will step into the leading female role. Given the current political climate, the production seems to be navigating casting choices cautiously.