Dia Mirza Breaks Reacts To Backlash Over Her Fawad Khan Remark: ‘Stop Circulating My Quotes Out Of Context'

Actor Dia Mirza has responded to a wave of online criticism triggered by her recent remarks supporting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s comeback to Bollywood with 'Abir Gulaal'.

However, Dia has now clarified that her statements were made long before the incident and are being misrepresented.

Source : Instagram/@diamirzaofficial

Actor Dia Mirza has responded to a wave of online criticism triggered by her recent remarks supporting Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s comeback to Bollywood with 'Abir Gulaal'. The backlash erupted following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people. However, Dia has now clarified that her statements were made long before the incident and are being misrepresented.

Dia Mirza reacts to the backlash

In a firm rebuttal posted on Instagram, Dia addressed the media directly, accusing some outlets of twisting her words and circulating them out of context. “To Members of the Media, STOP misrepresentation of facts. I did an interview for a film of mine on the 10th of April in which I gave a quote. Long before this horrific terror attack. Stop circulating my quotes NOW weeks after and out of context. This is unethical and deeply offensive,” she wrote.

What did Dia Mirza say?

Her original comments were made during a promotional interview with News18 earlier this month. During the interaction, she had voiced her belief in the unifying power of art, urging that creative expression should not be used to spread division. “Art should not be mixed with hatred. It is a political question. If the circumstances to seek a ban on artistes were completely… I’ve always believed that art is and should always be the medium of peace and harmony. We should never, ever allow art and sport to be tangled or mixed with hate. It’s just good that Fawad is back in the film, you know that we will be watching soon. I hope this leads to many more such opportunities for other collaborations,” she had said.

Abir Gulaal not to release in India

The timing of the controversy echoes a similar episode in 2016, when Fawad’s film 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' faced opposition in the aftermath of the Uri terror attack. Once again, political parties and film trade associations have come out in protest. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) have publicly opposed the release of Abir Gulaal, calling for a total boycott of Pakistani talent in Indian cinema.

There are also reports that the film will not see a release in Indian theatres. PTI quoted I&B Ministry sources that the movie, also starring Vaani Kapoor, will not be allowed to release in India. The film was scheduled for May 9 release.

Fawad Khan on Pahalgam terror attack

Fawad Khan, who stars in the film alongside Vaani Kapoor, also took to social media to express his sorrow over the Pahalgam tragedy. “Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time,” he wrote on Instagram.