Pakistani designer Zara Shahjahan trolled for SRK, Diljit Dosanjh praise amid Operation Sindoor, later responds, 'I stand with Pakistan'

In the wake of India's midnight military response to the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistani fashion designer Zara Shahjahan found herself at the centre of online outrage for her remarks on Indian actors Shah Rukh Khan and Diljit Dosanjh.

Operation Sindoor strike

On May 7, India carried out ¡®Operation Sindoor¡¯, a joint strike by the Army, Navy and Air Force, targeting nine terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. This came after a terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, including that of a Nepalese national.

Zara Shahjahan compliments Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh amid India Vs Pakistan tension

As geopolitical tensions surged, Zara Shahjahan took to Instagram to express admiration for Shah Rukh Khan and Diljit Dosanjh¡¯s debut appearances at the Met Gala on May 5. Calling them ¡°stars of the subcontinent,¡± she wrote that moments of global recognition felt bittersweet due to the strained relations between India and Pakistan.

Zara Shahjahan compliments Shah Rukh Khan, Diljit Dosanjh amid India Vs Pakistan tension | Credit: X

In her post, Shahjahan reflected on how artists from the region often symbolise a shared cultural past, but political realities prevent people from openly celebrating such moments. She described it as ¡°a strange thing¡± to grow up admiring someone ¡°who may never be allowed to love you back.¡±

And right after Operation Sindoor, Zara shared a statement on her Instagram account saying how she stands with Pakistan, and her support for SRK and Diljit comes from a cultural point of view.

View this post on Instagram

Pakistani netizens react to Sana¡¯s compliment

However, the timing of her remarks was not well received. A section of Pakistani social media users reacted strongly, accusing her of being tone-deaf and disrespectful at a time of national grief and political unrest. Many labelled her comments as inappropriate given the circumstances, questioning her priorities and patriotism.

One user commented that the designer¡¯s admiration was misplaced and disrespectful to those grieving. Others accused her of glorifying Indian celebrities when cross-border tensions were at their peak. Several posts expressed disbelief that she would refer to Shah Rukh Khan and Diljit Dosanjh as ¡°our stars.¡±

Operation Sindoor

India, meanwhile, maintained that Operation Sindoor was a ¡°focused and measured¡± response, targeting only terror infrastructure and avoiding Pakistani military installations. Officials reiterated that the operation was not intended to escalate conflict but to deliver justice to those responsible for the Pahalgam attack.

The backlash against Zara Shahjahan highlights how even cultural expression can become controversial during moments of heightened political tension, especially in a region marked by deep-rooted conflict and historical wounds.