Shah Rukh Khan's Raees director asks if it’s time Pakistani actors come back to Bollywood: 'Pak cricketers are here'

After a gap of 7 years, Pakistani cricketers landed in India for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Filmmaker Rahul Dholakia, who directed Shah Rukh Khan starrer Raees asked since cricketers are in the country, can we expect Pakistani actors to make a comeback in Bollywood as he wrote on X, “Now that Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films? Or musicians to perform?”

Now that #Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films ? Or Musicians to perform?

— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) September 28, 2023

1000!! Again! Damn!! You are killing it @iamsrk ! This is another level ! How do you do it Chief? Can u please show us once more ? .. in Dunki?

— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) September 26, 2023

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For the unversed, _Raees_ marked the Bollywood debut of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan but was not allowed to promote the film in the country as there was ban on Pakistani artistes after the Uri terror attack. The All Indian Cine Workers Association had announced a total ban on Pakistani artistes after the Pulwama terror attack in 2019. “In relation to Pakistani government banning Indian movies in Pakistan AICWA (All Indian Cine Workers Association) urges all the film industries to put a complete stop to any association with Pakistani artists, musicians, and diplomats,” read the statement in response to Pakistan’s own ban on Indian films. Talking to Film Companion in 2021, Mahira had said,  “I guess, having experienced it firsthand, it’s just sad. When I think about it… I mean, we have all moved on. That’s what we do, if we don’t have this, we do something else. That’s what happens. But I feel like a great opportunity for the entire subcontinent to come together and collaborate was lost. I think it might happen again. Who knows?”