Mehwish Hayat has been quite vocal when it comes to speaking against Indian of late. The actor has openly called out fellow artists from the other side of the border who have supported the Indian army’s activities in Kashmir. However, she has come under fire on social media after a snippet from a recent interview of hers went viral.
Talking to Express News, Hayat was asked to make a comment about Kashmir. To this, the Chhalawa star responded saying, “Nothing about Kashmir! I’ve been asked not to speak about Kashmir here.”
The leaked video is being taken out of context. I’ve been the most vocal on #Kashmir issue globally & will continue to do so. I have big plans for next steps. This was a charity event & was requested by the PR not to be political ¬ distract from the orphans I was there to help
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) September 29, 2019
محترمہ فرماتی ھیں ” کشمیر پر بات کرنے سے منع کیا گیا ھے ”
سبحان اللہ پیسہ بہت بڑی چیز ھے بڑے بڑوں کو دلا بنا دیا ھے اور محترمہ مہوش حیات جو دنیا میں اپنی طرف سے پاکستان کی نمائندگی کرتی پھرتی ھیں لیکن فیشن شو میں کشمیر کا نام نھیں لے سکتی
لخ دی لعنتpic.twitter.com/bvSkJEwpnA— Adnan Mughal (@Adnanmughal43) September 29, 2019
Soon after the video went viral on Twitter, a hashtag #RevokeMehwishHayatCivilAward started trending. Many called out the actor for her ‘selective activism.’
Mehwish hayat’s PR company barred her from commenting on Kashmir? #RevokeMehwishHayatCivilAward
— Zaffi (@HuzaifaEhsan07) September 29, 2019
Hey @MehwishHayat
You don’t deserve this award😒#RevokeMehwishHayatCivilAward— HIRA BUTT (@HiraButt99) September 29, 2019
If u dont want to speak on kashmir issue than you have no rights to tak #tamghaimtiaz
Kindly return it#MehwishHayat pic.twitter.com/DZ5IAkvfc9— khawaja shoaib (@shoaib2223) September 30, 2019
A lot of celebrities and bloggers have exposed their human inside them. Today @MehwishHayat exposed herself. I wonder someone who is scared to take the name of Kashmir deserves Tamgha e Imtiaz?
— Hassaan Niazi (@HniaziISF) September 29, 2019
Mehwish Hayat’s journey from Kashmir banega Pakistan to “Mujhe Kashmir pe bolne se mana kiya hai.” I bet Mehwish Hayat can still blame Priyanka Chopra for her own hypocrisy. pic.twitter.com/1rZY9Cm3Fp
— Naila Inayat नायला इनायत (@nailainayat) September 29, 2019
You got Tamgha-e-Imtiaz but don’t deserve it. Your silence speaks when you don’t utter a single word for innocent Muslims of #Kashmir.
Even PM of Pakistan is not silent then who stopped you discussing Kashmir issue?@MehwishHayatpic.twitter.com/UkBaqHaeBm
— Zara Ali (@ZaraIam) September 29, 2019
Hayat then took to Twitter to share her stance on the matter. “The leaked video is being taken out of context. I’ve been the most vocal on the Kashmir issue globally and will continue to do so. I have big plans for the next steps,” she said. “This was a charity event and I was requested by the PR not to be political and distract people from the orphans I was there to help.”
However, others came out and supported Hayat too. “Leave Mehwish Hayat alone. Stop taking bits from videos and ascribing your own meanings. This obsession with sensationalism,” Mehr Tarar shared. “Try to be rational once in a while. It doesn’t hurt! If Mehwish had been asked by God-knows-who to not talk about Kashmir, would she reveal that on camera?”
Leave Mehwish Hayat alone. Stop taking bits from videos & ascribing your own meanings. This obsession with sensationalism..
Try to be rational once in a while, it doesn’t hurt: if Mehwish had been asked by God-knows-who to not talk about Kashmir, would she reveal that on camera?
— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) September 29, 2019
Iqrarul Hassan also voiced his support for the Mein Punjab Nahi Jaungi beauty. “It’s the dream of every Pakistani artist to work in Bollywood but recently, Mehwish Hayat proved by criticising Indian policies that she loves her country more than her career. We all know she has always been vocal about Kashmir and India.”
It’s a dream of every Pakistani Artist to work in Bollywood but recently Mehwish Hayat proved by criticising Indian Policies that she loves her Country more than her Career… We all know she has always been vocal about Kashmir and Indian policies 👍 https://t.co/QsXlVsxerp
— Iqrar ul Hassan Syed (@iqrarulhassan) September 29, 2019
Shehzad Roy, too, stood beside Hayat. “The way you articulated the human rights violation in Kashmir and passionately promoted Pakistan, and the way it was reported in the international media, makes me a proud Pakistani. As colleagues, we are behind you. You don’t have to give clarifications for any leaked video.”
The way you articulated the human rights violation in Kashmir and passionately promoted pakistan and the way it was reported in the international media, makes me a proud Pakistani. As Colleagues we are behind you. You don’t have to give clarifications for any leaked video https://t.co/gljW5ZDqJn
— Shehzad Roy (@ShehzadRoy) September 29, 2019
Hayat has previously called out Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra for her stance on Kashmir.