Maybe by releasing the trailer of his collaborative venture with Netflix, Bard of Blood, Shahrukh Khan believed it was a really good idea to cash on the present political tensions between India and Pakistan.
The trailer for the series turned out to be anti-Pakistan and stereotyped Muslims as terrorists, taking the same approach Bollywood has done so for years.
It also became the top trend in Pakistan as quickly as the trailer was released, where people were fast to point out how Indian celebrities not only cashed in on the two countries ‘ political condition but also promoted hate and war through their media.
Taking the same strategy, Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat, who had spoken recently about the depiction of Pakistan by Bollywood, explained how Shahrukh once again did what she had indicated for so long.
“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,” wrote Mehwish on her Twitter.
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
Bard of Blood is based on Bilal Siddiqi’s book of the same name. The series will feature Emraan Hashmi as Kabir Anand, an excommunicated RAW agent, who is called back to duty after four intelligence agents are being kept captive in Pakistan before they can send a piece of significant data to India.
With the uncertainties increasing in India, the Muslims in the region may fear for their own security and create jingoistic content to justify their patriotism. Bard of Blood has a Muslim writer, a Muslim producer, and a Muslim lead actor, and yet it is anti-Muslim, what could be more depicting the current pressure on Modi’s India!
