Bollywood king and worldwide mega star, Shahrukh Khan recently released the trailer for Bard of Blood, a show that he’s produced for Netflix, and the Pakistani audience isn’t having any of it, especially at a sensitive time between India and Pakistan.
The trailer of the series starring Emraan Hashmi in the lead, opens up with a shot that’s supposed to be Balochistan, Pakistan, and the setting is instantly established as a terrorist organization’s den, that’s working against Indians. Naturally, the course of action is some Indian spies on a mission to overthrow this organization in Pakistan. Now, for the most part, the trailer could’ve been just another action/thriller movie, however the dynamics change completely when we focus at the time of release; India and Pakistan are at heads over Kashmir and war hysteria is real.
Following the trailer’s release, Mehwish Hayat, recipient of the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, tweeted about how India has always promoted a false image of Pakistan, vilifying the nation as per agenda.
This just vindicates what I have been saying for so long. Another week & yet another anti-Pakistan project. Now can we wake up, smell the coffee & see Bollywood’s agenda for what it is?@iamsrk Be patriotic, nobody is stopping you – just don’t do it at the expense of vilifying us. https://t.co/iCElRpJAa1
— Mehwish Hayat TI (@MehwishHayat) August 23, 2019
Mehwish was not the only one who had reservations about the trailer, many journalists also called it out for its blatant denigration of what Pakistan and Pakistanis are like.
Natasha Kundi of The London Tree had a burning question for Shahrukh Khan himself, who of course bore the major brunt of judgement in this scenario, being the producer of the series.
Shahrukh pleasing his masters at this fragile time between India & Pakistan. Your hatred couldn’t come at a better time Shahrukh? Pakistanis loved you. #BardOfBlood https://t.co/aVWB29TvXM
— Natasha Kundi نتاشا کُندی (@NatashaKLondon) August 23, 2019
Many were of the view that this is in fact a declaration of loyalty from Shahrukh’s side towards India, in an effort to avoid hate, being a Muslim star. Dr. Shaista Lodhi also took to twitter to voice her frustration with the narrative.
(1/2)Bollywood’s obsession with portraying Pakistan to be this one big evil terorrist hub in a desert?? Shahrukh Khan is willing to vilify Muslims across the border just so they can prove their patriotism to avoid getting hate ! https://t.co/Rd52sWLzmW
— Dr. Shaista Lodhi (@IamShaistaLodhi) August 23, 2019
(2/2)They saw the perfect time to drop this shit, when war rumours are up and escalation by india is at its peak, just to draw maximum attention and make most outta it. #BardOfBlood #ShahrukhKhan @iamsrk
— Dr. Shaista Lodhi (@IamShaistaLodhi) August 23, 2019
Columnist and writer, Mehr Tarar called SRK out for his new found ‘jingoism’.
Shah Rukh Khan, like all Indian Muslims, have to do all he can for validation of his patriotism. From MainHoonNa & MNIK where he showed Pakistan & Muslims aren't the foe,now he's made the Bard of Blood.
Patriotism is voluntary;forced jingoism is demonisation of Pakistan & Muslims— Mehr Tarar (@MehrTarar) August 24, 2019
Writer and prominent tweeter, Mahwash Ajaz, had a different take on the situation and one that is also highly needed. Serving as a reality check, her tweet made a lot of sense when it talked about how we can’t blame India for showing their version of the stories. It’s time that we showcase our version instead of whining about theirs.
Pakistanis can whine all they want about #BardofBlood. To India, Pakistan is the terrorist country that sponsors terrorism & Baluchistan needs to be freed. That’s India’s story & India will tell theirs.
The question is, Pakistanis, when will you tell yours?
— Mahwash Ajaz 🇵🇰 (@mahwashajaz_) August 23, 2019
Never one to stay far behind on twitter discourses, DG ISPR Asif Ghafoor also weighed in, providing some insights and reality checks.
Stay in bollywood syndrome @iamsrk . For reality see RAW Spy Kulbhushan Jadev, Wing Comd Abhinandan & state of 27 Feb 2019.
You could rather promote peace & humanity by speaking against atrocities in IOJ&K and against Hindituva of Nazism obsessed RSS. https://t.co/0FWqoRQsO6— Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) August 23, 2019
What are your thoughts on the trailer? Are you excited or are you practicing a boycott of the series as well? Let us know in the comments!
