The Calculated Performance: How Salman Khan’s Anti-Pakistan Strategy Exposes the Political Burden on Muslim Artists in India

The Calculated Performance: How Salman Khan’s Anti-Pakistan Strategy Exposes the Political Burden on Muslim Artists in India

October 21, 2025 Off By Sharp Media

Salman Khan’s recent remarks against Pakistan are not a spontaneous opinion. They appear to be a calculated strategy to appease the BJP, gain political favor, and promote his upcoming film. This is the old, tired formula where Muslim artists in India are forced to prove their loyalty to the state by attacking Pakistan, a burden they have carried for decades. This act is not patriotism; it is a performance of loyalty in a climate of fear.

A Predictable Political Strategy

Every few months, a prominent face from India’s film or sports world steps forward to support a political narrative. This narrative always matches the ruling BJP’s ideology perfectly.

♦ Patriotism Under Pressure: Sometimes this alignment is born from state pressure, and other times it comes from a desire for personal gain.

♦ The Shared Goal: The result, however, is always the same: to please those in power and gain cheap, fleeting popularity.

The Burden of Proving Loyalty

Salman Khan’s recent comments are just the latest episode in this long running and carefully managed series. His words reflect a much larger and darker national tragedy.

♦ A Reflection of Fear: This situation shows the systemic pressure on India’s entire class of Muslim actors, athletes, and artists.

♦ The Price of Success: They are forced to find the justification for their own existence and success in performing these public proofs of state loyalty.

A Prophecy Fulfilled

This unfortunate reality, where a citizen’s loyalty is perpetually questioned because of their faith, was foreseen decades ago by the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

♦ The Quaid’s Warning: He stated that the Muslims who remained in India would be in a position of permanent vulnerability, always at the mercy of the majority.

♦ A Never Ending Test: He predicted they would be forced to prove their loyalty over and over again—every single day, in every generation, and at every opportunity.

A Pattern of Fear and Pressure

Salman Khan is not alone in this; he is merely the latest to bend the knee. The examples of other prominent Muslim figures clearly show these are not emotional reactions.

♦ From Pathan to Akhtar: The examples of cricketer Irfan Pathan and writer Javed Akhtar, among many others, all tell the same story of bowing to this immense pressure.

♦ A Game of Fear: Their statements are born from a toxic mix of fear, the desperate desire for continued popularity, and the crushing pressure to conform.

The Unspoken Message to Minorities

The message being sent to all minorities in India through these celebrity endorsements is clear, simple, and chilling. It is a powerful signal from the majoritarian state.

♦ Stay Within Your Limits: The unspoken message is: you must know your place. You are permitted to sing, dance, and act.

♦ Do Not Question the Majority: You are welcome as entertainers, but you must never, under any circumstances, dare to question the narrative of the majoritarian state.

A Rebuttal on National Integrity

While these actors play their political roles, they must be reminded that their words have consequences. They cannot irresponsibly touch upon the internal matters of other sovereign nations.

♦ Balochistan is Pakistan: Let there be no ambiguity or confusion on this matter. Balochistan is, and always will be, an integral part of Pakistan.

♦ Do Not Sell Lies: Pakistan will not allow anyone to make false statements about its internal affairs. Bollywood influencers must remember that an artist’s job is to reflect reality, not to sell the lies of a political party.

The Price of Flattery

These actors may achieve their short term goals of promoting a film or pleasing a politician. However, they should seriously consider the long term cost of their choices.

♦ Temporary Popularity: Popularity that is gained through flattery and appeasing power is always temporary; it fades the moment the political winds change.

♦ Permanent Honor: The respect that is earned through truth, integrity, and honor, however, is permanent and lasts for generations.

Pakistan’s Sovereign Stance

This incident serves as a reminder that while narratives can be manipulated for temporary gain, facts remain constant. Pakistan’s stance on its own sovereignty is not flexible.

♦ A Warning on False Narratives: Should these false statements and accusations continue, the response will be clear and firm.

♦ A Dignified Response: That response will always be delivered with reason, dignity, and a firm belief in Pakistan’s unshakeable sovereignty.

Conclusion

Salman Khan’s statements are not an act of patriotism; they are a symptom of the fear and pressure that now defines the Indian Muslim celebrity experience. It is a sad reflection of a political climate where loyalty must be performed through anti-Pakistan rhetoric. While artists in India may feel forced to make such choices, they should remember that popularity gained from flattery is temporary, but the respect earned from truth lasts forever. Pakistan remains steadfast in its integrity and will meet any false narrative with dignity and clarity.