akistani actress Mehwish Hayat has accused popular cinema of fueling the rise of Islamophobia, especially India with its massive film industry making “countless films showing Pakistanis as the villains”. As this incendiary comment has landed right in the middle of a political stand-off over Kashmir between the two neighbours from the Sub-continent, social media has gone ballistic.
What did Mehwish Hayat do?
Hayat was speaking at an event in Oslo, Norway where she was awarded the Pride of Performance award by Norway’s Prime Minister, Erna Solberg.
During her acceptance speech, she said: “Our neighbours have one of the largest film industries in the world. And in a time where they could have used the power they wield to bring us together, what do they do? They make countless films showing Pakistanis as the villains. I have lost count of the number of films even in the last year that Pakistan has been shown in a bad light.
“I understand that given our history our upbringing and the politics of the region, it is very difficult to be neutral and in being so can be seen as unpatriotic. However, if we want any semblance of peace for future generations we as artistes have to see beyond nationalism and take a stand. So what is the answer?
“I think that the first thing is that we as the Pakistani industry have to be less insular. We have to realise that through our films we can get a more nuanced picture of our country across to our international audiences.”
She then went on to criticise Hollywood and demanded that it “has to acknowledge the damage they’ve inflicted on my country [Pakistan] with the way they have been portraying us. I don’t ask for more positive respresentations but at least can these representations be more balanced. There’s more to us than gun wielding terrorists or subjugated women. Come on, that’s so cliched. Let’s move on from that.”
Hayat also went on to name a few shows like Homeland, Zero Dark Thirty and The Brink that according to her, portray Muslims negatively.
But, she was not done with Bollywood, placing the onus of regional stability on it.
The actress concluded: “As for our neighbours. They really need to decide what is it that they want - nationalistic fervour or a peaceful future? If they really want to work towards peace like our Prime Minister Imran Khan said if they take the first step, we are ready to take ten more. I pray that common sense prevails and within this lifetime we are able to witness real peace in the region.”
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