Indian actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan arrived at the Wagah-Attari border on Tuesday to promote their upcoming film Udata Teer, releasing October 23. What they did not plan for was Atif Aslam.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
As the two actors addressed fans and Indian security forces with Pakistan’s Bab-e-Azadi crossing and Pakistani flag visible directly behind them, Coke Studio’s iconic rendition of Tajdar-e-Haram, sung by Aslam, rang out loud and clear from the Pakistani side of the border, drowning their speeches in one of the most unscripted moments of any Bollywood promotional campaign in recent memory.
Khurrana, visibly emotional, told the crowd, “Every time I come here, I get very emotional,” while Sara Ali Khan greeted the audience with “Namaste, I want to give you all so much love.” Neither could be clearly heard over the music filling the air behind them.
When Dharma Productions, the production house of filmmaker Karan Johar, posted the promotional video on Instagram, the scenes from the border speech were quietly left out. A different background soundtrack replaced the original. Pakistani social media users noticed immediately.
“Dharma had to put music over it because the original background sound was embarrassing for them,” wrote one user. Another commented, “You had to add music because Coke Studio playing in the background was too awkward to keep.” Several users demanded the original unedited version.
One Indian user offered a different read: “When Ayushmann and Sara began addressing the crowd, loud Coke Studio music started playing from the Pakistani side, apparently to disrupt their speeches. But the attempt backfired. Instead of derailing the promotion, it gave the actors another viral moment. Pakistan tried to silence the campaign and ended up amplifying it.”
Udata Teer has already courted controversy before its release. The film centers on a Pakistani spy who loses his memory during a mission and begins to believe he is an Indian officer. Indian media reports that several critics have described it as carrying an anti-Pakistan narrative. Nepal’s censor board has also refused to grant it a public screening certificate, without citing a specific reason.
Whatever side of the border you are on, Atif Aslam won the day.
Sources: BBC Urdu, Indian media reports
