Sanam Teri Kasam 2: Mawra Hocane Dropped, Directors Change Stand After Harshvardhan Rane’s Post

The 2016 romantic drama Sanam Teri Kasam may have gained fresh attention recently, but its directors, Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, have made headlines for a different reason. Following the tragic loss of 26 civilians in a terror attack in Pahalgam and the subsequent Indian military operation, Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist outfits in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the filmmakers have voiced strong opinions against the involvement of Pakistani actors in Indian projects.

In a statement shared with Hindustan Times, the directors criticized Pakistani celebrities for their silence in the face of ongoing cross-border terrorism. They pointed specifically to the remarks and lack of public stance from prominent Pakistani actors who have worked in India, such as Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Mawra Hocane, the leading lady of Sanam Teri Kasam.

"India continues to lose innocent lives to cross-border terrorism. What’s even more disheartening is the silence—or worse, the statements—of Pakistani actors who have worked in India, receiving love, respect, and opportunity," said the directors. They expressed their full support for the Indian government's decision to ban Pakistani artists and declared, "Not a single rupee should be paid, not a single minute of our time should be offered, and not a single Indian platform should engage with them. We stand by our government and fully support its decision. Nation First — Always!"

The Federation of Western Indian Cine Employees (FWICE), a prominent workers’ body in the Indian film industry, has echoed these sentiments, reinforcing the stance against Pakistani talent in Indian media.

This shift in policy follows the controversy surrounding Harshvardhan Rane, who starred opposite Mawra Hocane in Sanam Teri Kasam. Rane took to social media, expressing that he would not return for a sequel if the original cast, particularly Mawra, was repeated. He wrote, "While I am grateful for the experience… I have made a decision to respectfully decline to be a part of Sanam Teri Kasam Part 2 if there is any possibility of the previous cast being repeated."

Rane's post came after Mawra’s critical comments on Operation Sindoor, which she condemned on social media, referring to it as "cowardly" and expressing her condolences for the loss of innocent civilians. This sparked further backlash from those supporting the ban on Pakistani actors.

Sanam Teri Kasam, initially a modest box-office performer, saw an unexpected surge in popularity when it was re-released in February 2025. The film grossed ?53 crore worldwide, with ?45 crore coming from the re-release alone. Despite its initial lukewarm reception, the film’s re-release outperformed several new releases, becoming the highest-grossing re-release in recent memory.

With the increasing political and cultural tensions between India and Pakistan, Sanam Teri Kasam’s sequel is now caught in the middle of a larger debate over the involvement of Pakistani talent in Indian films. The directors’ latest statement and Harshvardhan Rane’s refusal to work with Mawra Hocane underscore the industry's growing divide amid the ongoing political climate.