As tensions rise once again between India and Pakistan, this time under the banner of Operation Sindoor, a deeply troubling trend is becoming increasingly visible—not just on the ground, but across the cultural and media landscape of India. Prominent Bollywood figures, rather than using their influential platforms to promote peace and urge restraint, appear to be amplifying a narrative of conflict and aggression.
Operation Sindoor and the Spectacle of Nationalism
Operation Sindoor, launched by the Indian Army in response to militant activity and attacks in Kashmir, has quickly been turned into a nationalist rallying cry. But this militarized response is not just limited to official state channels—it has been endorsed, echoed, and even celebrated by celebrities and media personalities, turning a complex and tragic conflict into a patriotic spectacle.
In the face of this, Bollywood’s top voices are either complicit through silence or active participants in a rising wave of war-mongering rhetoric.
The Role of Bollywood: Amplifying War Instead of Questioning It
Bollywood, with its vast domestic and global reach, holds immense cultural power. But when this power is used to reinforce hostility instead of advocating dialogue, it becomes a dangerous tool. In recent days, many Indian actors and influencers have taken to social media to:
- Applaud military operations without questioning the loss of innocent lives.
- Share videos and images accompanied by nationalist slogans and war-themed music.
- Imply moral superiority and demonize an entire nation.
This aggressive stance leaves little room for empathy, diplomacy, or critical reflection—and dangerously narrows public discourse.
Double Standards in Celebrity Advocacy
It’s worth noting the hypocrisy in the global activism of many Bollywood celebrities. Many have previously spoken out for causes such as Black Lives Matter, climate justice, or humanitarian crises in other regions. But when it comes to the crisis at their own border, where real lives are at risk, most either stay silent or follow the prevailing nationalist sentiment.
Selective activism sends a dangerous message—that peace and justice are causes worth supporting, but only when they are politically convenient or far removed from home.
The Absence of Peace-Building Art
Bollywood has long had the power to shape public perception, yet few are using it to ask the hard questions: What is the cost of war? Who truly benefits from it? Where are the films and stories that show the human side of conflict, or that build bridges instead of burning them?
Instead, much of the industry continues to churn out hyper-nationalist films, often painting Pakistan and Muslims in a negative light, further entrenching hatred and suspicion.
A Call for Cultural Responsibility
It is time for Bollywood and India’s cultural elite to reflect: Do they want to be remembered as enablers of war or as advocates of peace? True strength lies in restraint, dialogue, and mutual respect—not in stirring hatred or validating military action without critique.
At this critical moment, it is not just governments that bear responsibility. Artists, too, must choose their side—not between nations, but between war and peace, propaganda and truth, fear and understanding.
History will remember who spoke for peace when it was most unpopular to do so. And in South Asia, a region long marred by conflict, we need artists who will choose courage—not compliance.