Paresh Rawal takes a dig at Ali Zafar's 'What a speech' comment

Paresh Rawal and Ali Zafar

Days after a suicide bomber killed 40 CRPF troopers in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir, on February 14, India on early Tuesday - February 26 - struck the Jaish-e-Mohammed's (JeM) biggest training camp at Balakote in Pakistani-administered Kashmir, killing a large number of terrorists and their trainers. A slew of Bollywood celebrities took to social media to share slogans and sentiments of pride.

Paresh Rawal took a dig at Pakistani singer and actor Ali Zafar on the latter's silence over the IAF operations. Rawal reacted to Zafar's old tweet where he had praised the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech. While Zafar applauded Pakistan PM Imran Khan with a 'What a speech!' for stating that the nation would retaliate if India attacked it, actor and MP Paresh Rawal took a jab at the actor

Meanwhile, Zafar, who has been a significant part of the Indian film industry, received flak for voicing his support for Imran Khan's speech shortly after the Pulwama attacks. Ali made his debut in Indian cinema in 2010 with Tere Bin Laden. He was later seen in Bollywood films like Luv Ka The End, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, London, Paris, New York, Chashme Baddoor, Total Siyapaa, Kill Dil and Dear Zindagi.

Film associations in India banned collaborations with Pakistani talent, in the wake of the February 14 Pulwama terror attack.

In the latest development, many Bollywood celebrities on Wednesday called for peace and wished for the safe return of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who is in Pakistan's custody. Pakistan said it had Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan in its custody.

Actress Nimrat Kaur, who comes from an Army background: "Strength and resolve to the family and loved ones of Wing Commander Abhinandan. The nation's prayers and thoughts are with him in this tough hour. May this stoic, dignified officer be back on Indian soil soon."

Former beauty queen Sushmita Sen, the daughter of a retired Indian Air Force officer, wrote: "We are all praying for the safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan."

"To all those who cheered from the sidelines yesterday, with all humility I ask you to read the next sentence. 'He has still not returned'," filmmaker Nikkhil Advani tweeted.

Actress and daughter of Colonel V.K. Jaitley, Celina Jaitly said that Tuesday's action by India was "counter terrorism" and "no civilians (were) hurt, no military personnel targeted/hurt.

"What Pakistan did is an act of war, they targeted military personnel, while no one wants war, Pakistan has aggravated the situation. Praying for Wing Commander Abhinandan's safe return."

Actress Taapsee Pannu re-tweeted the news about Varthaman and said this is what she feared in all "this celebration" after the IAF fighter jets struck terror launch pads in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Actress Swara Bhasker said: "Bring back Abhinandan."

Some celebrities also urged the media and social media community to be more responsible and to steer clear from spreading anger.

Swara wrote: We hope and pray for the safety of our soldiers and officers. Please stop circulating fake and old videos and creating panic and miscommunication. Things are tense and volatile as it is. Please be responsible.

Ranganathan Madhavan: It's a war against terror not between two nations yet. Dear Media -- You can actually stop this escalation... Please let's be responsible and work towards peace.

Shekhar Kapur: It's really important not to fan the flames of war rhetoric. It's not a game. You are not facing bullets or bombs. You are not the family praying and hoping fervently that your husbands, brothers or fathers are safe. Nor living in border areas in fear. It's easy to be armchair soldiers.

Richa Chadha: Can news media be tried for inciting war? For ugly graphics, video game footage, provocative hashtags. Funnily, here is one place we are united eh India, Pakistan - in fake news!

Vishal Dadlani: Indian or Pakistani, if you have any brains and any love/respect for your soldiers, say it out loud. We don't want war. We need peace.

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Edited by mid-day online desk, with inputs from agencies