May 28, 2025: An old video from 2023 showing Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presenting an award to actor Mawra Hocane has resurfaced and gone viral across social media — not for the honour itself, but for the PM’s gaze during the exchange.
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The clip, originally from a formal event at the Governor House in Punjab, was posted by Pakistan’s UNewsTV with the eyebrow-raising caption: “Shehbaz Sharif ‘deep-scans’ Mawra Hussain while giving award, video goes viral.” Now, nearly two years later, the footage has re-emerged amid renewed interest in India-Pakistan affairs, reigniting discussions around conduct in public office.
In the now-viral video, Hocane — known for her Bollywood debut in Sanam Teri Kasam — is seen receiving the award from PM Sharif. However, it’s the moment immediately after the handshake that has the internet talking. Sharif appears to take a prolonged look at the actress, prompting viewers to accuse him of what’s being called a “suspicious side-eye” or “deep-scan.”
The video has sparked a wave of reactions online, ranging from humorous memes to serious criticism. Many netizens are using the moment to highlight the concept of the “male gaze” — a term often used in feminist theory to describe how women are objectified through visual attention, especially by those in power.
Ongoing Controversy Around Mawra Hocane
The resurfacing of the clip also comes at a tense time for Hocane herself. The actress recently came under fire for publicly criticizing India’s Operation Sindoor, an anti-terror initiative. This prompted her Sanam Teri Kasam co-star, Harshvardhan Rane, to announce he would not work in the sequel if Hocane were cast again.
Hocane hit back, calling Rane’s move a “PR strategy,” but the fallout didn’t end there. Reports surfaced that platforms like Spotify had removed Hocane’s image from the film’s promotional material — a move widely seen as symbolic of the larger India-Pakistan divide spilling into the entertainment world.
As for Shehbaz Sharif, while there has been no official response from his office regarding the viral clip, the internet’s collective memory has once again proven powerful. In an age where every gesture is scrutinized, even a passing glance can turn into a firestorm.