ISLAMABAD: Indian actress Swara Bhaskar sparked a war of words on Twitter over her comments about Pakistan during a television interview.
Bhaskar is one of the stars of “Veere Di Wedding,” a female-led comedy buddy film that was banned by censors in Pakistan on the grounds of explicit language and sexual themes. Asked about the ban by film critic Rajeev Masand during an interview on CNN News18 Bhaskar, who previously made headlines for expressing her love for Pakistan, did not mince words.
“For some reason I have to keep answering for that,” she said. “I don’t know why people think I’m a spokesperson for the Pakistani government. What do you expect from a state that’s run by Sharia law?
“They’re a nonsecular state. I’m not surprised at all. Why should we hold up Pakistan, which is a failing state? I don’t understand why we keep taking pleasure and feeling a sense of self-worth from all the silly things that happen in Pakistan. Apologies to all my Pakistani friends right now...rest assured, Pakistanis have way worse vocabulary than we do. I know.”
Two Pakistani actors, Urwa Hocane and Gohar Rasheed, quickly responded on Twitter to Bhaskar’s comments. Hocane posted a three-part message condemning her statements and also the uproar in India over the film “Padmavat.”
“Pakistan is the country that you @ReallySwara referred to, in 2015, as the ‘Best country you have ever visited’ and it has only gotten better in the last few years in every aspect along with when it comes to having bigger hearts and welcoming our guests,” she wrote.
Pakistan is the country that you @ReallySwara referred to,in 2015, as the “Best country you have ever visited” and it has only gotten better in the last few years in every aspect along with when it comes to having bigger hearts and welcoming our guests . 1/3
— URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018
“While you’re on this spree of empowering women, I must say you’ve become a bitter person. And all of this is odd coming from a citizen of a state that bans their own films i.e. #Padmavat so let’s not talk about women empowerment.
2/3 While you’re on this spree of empowering women,i must say you’ve become a bitter person. And all of this is odd coming from a citizen of a state that bans their own films i.e. #Padmavat so let’s not talk about women empowerment.
— URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018
“This only reflects on u as an ignorant person who is also quiet contradictory in her own statements. It’s not a failing state for sure but u come across as a ‘Failing Human Being’!!! @ReallySwara.”
3/3 This only reflects on u as an ignorant person who is also quiet contradictory in her own statements. It’s not a failing state for sure but u come across as a “Failing Human Being” !!! @ReallySwara
From the citizen of the Phenomenal Pakistan— URWA HOCANE (@VJURWA) June 2, 2018
Rasheed posted a 10-part response, also directly addressed to Bhaskar.
“#SwaraBhasker prior to your recent interview I’ve never heard your name or known of your existence in #Bollywood. Hence this is when I found out about you, and your change of opinion on #Pakistan. My first reaction was, what a ‘typical old school mentality,’” he wrote his first message.
#SwaraBhasker prior to your recent interview I've never heard your name or known of your existence in #Bollywood. Hence this is when I found out about you, and your change of opinion on #Pakistan.
My first reaction was, what a “typical old school mentality”, (1/10)— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
Obviously in order to stand out in front of your talented and well spoken co actors #KareenaKapoor & #SonamKapoor you'ld resort to a controversial statement to get the limelight. There seemed to be no better way for you, than talking about #Pakistan with hatred, (2/10)
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
This reflects your negative mantra in making some name for your self, also why I've never heard of you before, (3/10) #VeereDiWedding #SwaraBhasker #AttentionSeeker
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
In your interview you said “#Pakistan is a failing state, I don’t understand why we keep taking pleasure and feeling sense of self worth from all the things that happens in #Pakistan”. Let me inform you that #Pakistan is the 5th largest market for Bollywood films, (4/10)
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
So here's the reason why you take pleasure and feel a sense of worth from all the things that happen in Pakistan. Its the Pakistani fans and authorities that can determine the fate and worth of an Indian film in the global box office. (5/10)
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
So I hope that will knock some sense in your head, (6/10) #VeereDiWedding #SwaraBhaskar #AttentionSeeker
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
Lastly you stated that “ Pakistanis have way worse vocabulary then we do” - odd that it's one aspect of #Pakistan you seemed to have taken an interest in, (7/10)
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
I suppose others would look into the literary advancements but clearly abusive language is your sphere of interest, (8/10)
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
However let me tell you, the way we give respect, spread peace and provide knowledge to ignorant attention seekers clearly reflects on where we stand intellectually. (9/10) #SwaraBhaskar #AttentionSeeker
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
And let me conclude with the quote from my beloved #QuaideAzam #MohammadAliJinnah “THERE IS NO POWER ON EARTH THAT CAN UNDO PAKISTAN“ (10/10) #ProudPakistani #SwaraBhaskar #KHUSHRAHO
— Gohar Rasheed (@GoharRsd) June 3, 2018
Bhaskar has not spoken publicly about the interview but retweeted and responded to fans who offered her support. To one she wrote that her comments were not aimed at the people of Pakistan but those that make decisions such as the banning of films.
“There should we a distinction between States/govts of a country and the people of that country. My regard for and goodwill toward the people of #Pakistan remains unchanged. Some of my closest friends are Pakistani. Lahore remains one of my soul cities.”
Thanks Anshul! there should we a distinction between States/ govts of a country & the people of that country. My regard for & goodwill towards the people of #Pakistan remains unchanged. Some of my closest friends are Pakistani. Lahore remains one of my soul cities. https://t.co/JHImDSnwKU
— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) June 4, 2018
The ban on “Veere Di Wedding” was announced on May 30 by Pakistan’s Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC), who cited “vulgar dialogue” and “obscene scenes” as the reasons.
The film, directed by Shashanka Ghosh, is a buddy comedy starring Kareena Kapoor, in her first role after taking time off for the birth of her first child, Sonam Kapoor, Shikha Talsania and Bhaskar as four friends attending a wedding.
The trailer, which has been viewed more than 30 million times, includes dialogue about sex, and swearing in Punjabi and English. Despite this edgy attitude, the film attracted a lot of pre-release buzz for being a modern comedy about female friends and marriage in South Asia. The video for the first song released from the soundtrack, “Tareefan,” has been watched 54 million times.
The film was due for release in Pakistan on June 1. Prior to the announcement of the CBFC ban, the Sindh Film Censors (SFC) cleared the film following some cuts. However, when both CBFC and the Punjab Film Censor Board failed to clear the film, SFC followed suit.
The decision prompted much activity on Twitter, which questioned the reasons why a film about women discussing topics similar to those regularly discussed in Hollywood films was banned.
