Pakistani artists, actors, musicians, comedians and people belonging to
other fields of entertainment have worked in India in the past and
gradually the trend is growing with every passing year. There are many
Pakistanis who have done more work in India this year than they have in
Pakistan. Many of the Pakistani actors feel that art does not have
boundaries so they can work anywhere they want irrespective of what ties
Pakistan has with India. Some of these actors also think that working in
Bollywood is a big leap forward especially when they have already proven
themselves in Pakistan.
Not everyone thinks like that. There are Pakistani actors who have
refused to work in Bollywood even though they were offered big projects.
Here is a list of Pakistani actors who refused offers from Bollywood.
The list also contains the reasons because of which they refused these
offers.
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Shan Shahid
Shan Shahid is on top of this list because Shan is not one of those
actors who refused to work in Bollywood because the offer did not sound
good enough. He is also not one of those actors who say that they will
work in Bollywood if they get a good project to work in. His way of
thinking is totally different. Shan Shahid has said it many times that
he does not want to work in India but he wants to make the Pakistani
film industry so strong that one day Indians will come and work in
Pakistan. A recent example of this is Om Puri working in Pakistan by
being part of Actor In Law.Shan Shahid also thinks that Bollywood
directors and producers never give Pakistanis the kind of roles which
will leave a positive image. Shan Shahid was offered to play the role of
the villain in the film “Ghajini” which was a very popular film. Talking
about why he refused to work in the film he once said,
“I refused India once. When I read the role, I knew that they needed a
new terrorist face and I said no. In Pakistan, I live in people’s
hearts. That’s a huge responsibility. I cannot let them down.” |
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Hamza Ali Abbasi
Many people do not know this but Hamza Ali Abbasi was offered a role in
Bollywood film “Baby” which Meekal Zulfiqar accepted after Hamza Ali
Abbasi refused to be a part of the film.
In another interview Hamza Ali Abbasi made it clear that he wasn’t one
of those actors who were waiting for another offer from Bollywood. He
went on to say that he wanted to stay in Pakistan and work for the
Pakistani film industry. He said,
“I would rather work on fostering my own industry. I respect actors like
Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan who are working in India while staying true
to their roots but personally, I want to develop professionalism and
better pay here rather than go in search of it across the border.”
Now that the relations between Pakistan and India have grown worse Hamza
Ali Abbasi urged Pakistanis to stop working in Bollywood. |
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Hamayun Saeed
Hamayun Saeed has not rejected one but many offers by Bollywood
producers. Few years back he might have been uncertain about whether he
would work in a Bollywood project or not but now he is very sure that he
won’t be working across the border because there is so much he has to do
here in Pakistan. In a recent interview he said straight away,
“I am just not interested. I have so much work here as an actor and
producer, I really don’t have the time.”
This statement clearly indicates that Hamayun Saeed is not going to work
in Bollywood at all because he is enjoying his work in Pakistan. |
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Faisal Qureshi
In an interview Faisal Qureshi shared that he was offered 2-3 Bollywood
films but he refused because the script wasn’t as good as he would have
wanted it to be. He also said that he does not want to disappoint his
fans. Faisal Qureshi is not one of those actors who don’t want to work
in Bollywood but he wants to work only if there is a good project in
which he gets a major role to play.
While talking about those actors who have worked across the border he
said in one of his interviews,
“People have to make money too. One film in Bollywood pays more than 10
films here. Presently they might be doing what people think are
unexciting roles but things will change. It is a start and gives
newcomers a hope. When they are sidelined and mistreated on Indian
shows, I don’t like it one bit. But how long will they treat them badly
and stifle their talent? Our talent has now crossed the borders.”
At the same time Faisal Qureshi is not happy with Pakistani media’s
obsession with Bollywood stars. He thinks that the media is more
fascinated with Bollywood than with the local industry. |
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Fahad Mustafa
Fahad Mustafa was offered a Bollywood film back in 2015 by Mahesh Bhatt.
He said in one of his chat sessions that he did not even consider the
offer because he has much better offers in Pakistan. Later on when
Fahad’s films came out, people knew what he was talking about. Fahad
Mustafa has never said anything against Bollywood but he is very happy
with all the work he is doing in Pakistan and does not feel the need to
go there and work.
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Sanam Jung
Sanam Jung also revealed in an interview that she was offered a
Bollywood film but she told them that she could not do any bold scenes
and because of that she could never be a part of Bollywood. Explaining
further she said,
“When I said I would not do bold scenes, they replied they could
‘cheat’, but even if they cheat a scene, the audience will think I have
done it. So Bollywood is out of the question.”
Sanam Jung does not want to compromise on certain restraints she has put
on herself so Bollywood is not on the cards for her.
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Fatima Effendi
Fatima Effendi refused to work in Bollywood because of the same reasons
Sanam Jung refused to work there. In an interview she revealed,
“Anees Bazmee called me and praised my drama serial and asked me to work
in his film. I asked him about the story and the character I’d portray
but refused to sign the movie because it required me to play a bold
character.”
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Mehwish Hayat
Mehwish Hayat was also offered a role in Bollywood film “Jut James Bond”
but she refused the offer. Mehwish Hayat is also not one of those actors
who are dead against working in Bollywood but she is waiting for the
right offer. |
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