At a time when anti-Pakistan sentiment is raging in India, even the glamour of Bollywood and high fashion hasn’t escaped the fire.Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor has come under fire on social media after her photos with a Pakistani designer surfaced online. The images triggered a wave of backlash, with several users branding her a “traitor” and “shameless” for associating with talent across the border.
The now-controversial images, shared by Faraz Manan on April 27, appear to have been taken during a photoshoot or private gathering in Dubai. The caption simply read, “With the OG.”
However, the timing — just days after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir — has fueled nationalist anger online. With India swiftly blaming Pakistan for the incident, emotions are running high, and Kareena’s association with a Pakistani designer was branded “shameless” and “unpatriotic” by enraged netizens.
Social media users lashed out, calling her a “traitor” and accusing her of disrespecting the national mood. Some even invoked her marriage to Saif Ali Khan, framing her appearance with Faraz Manan as proof of “family loyalties.”
The backlash escalated into a boycott campaign, with calls to shun her films and brands she endorses. While Kareena and Faraz share a history of professional collaborations — with Manan being a staple name among Bollywood’s elite — this episode has become a flashpoint in the ongoing India-Pakistan political and cultural divide.