Pakistan star Fawad Khan and the never-ending loyalty test

While some international platforms quietly remove Pakistani artists from posters and credits, back home, we seem to be conducting our own interrogation—as if to compensate. And what’s truly impressive is how quickly we decided that the real issue here isn’t the geopolitical tension — it’s Fawad Khan.

Yes, while two nuclear-armed nations navigate a complicated moment, we’ve somehow managed to make it all about a film star who, incidentally, hasn’t said anything controversial — or much at all. But silence, it seems, is now a punishable offense. Apparently, if you're not shouting perfectly timed, neatly packaged soundbites from the rooftops, your loyalty must be questioned.

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Because why bother addressing real issues when the ‘has-beens’ can hijack their morning-show-turned-courtroom to interrogate a man whose biggest flaw is… working abroad and being too polite?

Let’s get real: every ambitious professional — whether an engineer, doctor, or actor — dreams of growth. If someone offered you a job overseas with better pay, more exposure, and a chance to avoid creative stagnation, would you turn it down for the so-called "greater good"? No? Then congratulations — by this logic, you too are disloyal.

And he’s not alone. Whether it's Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Atif Aslam, Saba Qamar, Hania Aamir, or Fawad Khan — they’ve all faced public shaming for simply daring to be visible beyond borders. These are individuals who have brought more fame and recognition to the country than most of us ever will. They know — better than anyone — that the odds of being cast again across the border are slim to none. But to assume that is the reason they choose not to speak is not just unfair — it’s patronising.

Fawad and others didn’t sneak into another country. They were invited. Celebrated. Given a platform. And instead of embracing their success — which, by the way, spotlighted Pakistani talent on a global stage — we’re now demanding explanations like they’ve been caught in some national scandal.

A celebrated Pakistani director recently had the audacity to say Fawad doesn’t deserve to play Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb — this, from the same man who once offered Fawad his films before anyone else. The irony writes itself. And let’s not forget the podcasters and self-appointed guardians of patriotism who are demanding press-conference-style loyalty oaths just to feed their endless cycle of clout, retweets, and reaction videos.

Fawad, by nature, is not a loud man. He’s never claimed to be a political spokesperson or a cultural ambassador. He’s non-controversial by design. He didn’t go on a media spree when he won awards across the border, when he delivered the biggest Pakistani blockbuster, neither he came forward to defend himself during the award show controversy where he was wrongly blamed for taking Badar Khalil’s seat. That kind of noise simply isn’t his style, and his choice deserves respect. He acts — that’s his job. Expecting him to abandon his personality just to perform your version of patriotism isn’t national pride — it’s narcissism.

And for those casually claiming “he never did much here” — perhaps take a moment to actually look at his recent work. In just the past few years, Fawad has starred in The Legend of Maula Jatt, a cinematic milestone that took years to complete, along with projects like Ms. Marvel, Velo, Money Back Guarantee, and upcoming titles like Neelofar, Jo Bachay Hain Sang Samet Lo, and Shandur. Frankly, he’s done more than many of our so-called leading men combined. But then again, that’s beside the point — isn’t it?

Let’s be honest: asking him to prove his patriotism every day is like insisting everyone to stop using Google because Sundar Pichai is Indian. Is that too much to ask? Yes. It’s absurd. That’s the point.

Being too quiet is an art — but sometimes, it hands others the pen to write your story, and not everyone writes with kindness. Silence can invite misjudgement, and in the wrong hands, it becomes a weapon.

Fawad Khan is not the problem here. But turning patriotism into a popularity contest — and using public platforms to bully your own — that just might be.

Sadiq Saleem is a UAE-based writer and can be contacted on his Instagram handle @sadiqidas.