- Wednesday, May 14, 2025
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has landed in controversy yet again, this time for a patriotic post shared just hours before the trailer launch of his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par. On May 13, the official X handle of Aamir Khan Productions posted a tribute to the armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor, which many netizens interpreted as a calculated move to draw attention ahead of the movie’s promotional campaign.
The post read, “Salute to the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Heartfelt gratitude to our armed forces for their courage, bravery, and unwavering commitment to the security of our nation. Thank you to the Honourable Prime Minister for his leadership and determination. Jai Hind.”
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While the post appeared to be a message of solidarity, the timing sparked a fierce backlash online. Several social media users accused the actor and his production house of leveraging a sensitive national security operation to gain traction for the film’s trailer launch.
One user commented, “Kucha jada jaldi nahi kar di post? (Didn’t you post this a bit too early?)” suggesting the message felt pre-planned and inauthentic. Others were harsher in tone, with a wave of comments accusing Aamir Khan and fellow actors like Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan of selectively displaying patriotism when it aligns with professional interests.
“Ye paise ke liye bolte hain lekin dil mein Turkey aur Pakistan hai,” one user wrote, implying that the actor’s heart lies outside of India despite earning fame and fortune within the country. Another person referenced Khan’s earlier box-office failure, Laal Singh Chaddha, stating, “Wrna public itna pelegi k jaisi laal singh ki chaddi pili hue thi,” mocking both the post and the timing.
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The Operation Sindoor post followed a national security escalation that began on April 22, when 26 civilians, mostly tourists, were killed in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baisaran valley near Pahalgam.
India responded on May 7 with precision strikes targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, under the codename Operation Sindoor. Several Bollywood celebrities came out in support of the armed forces at the time, but Aamir Khan remained noticeably silent until his May 13 post.
The backlash raises questions about the intersection of Bollywood and nationalism, with some suggesting actors should separate their personal brand promotions from sensitive national issues. While a portion of users supported Khan’s message and saw it as timely and respectful, the overwhelming majority on social media viewed it as a publicity tactic tied to the trailer release of Sitaare Zameen Par, set to hit theatres in June 2025.
The trailer itself has drawn mixed reactions, with some online viewers calling the film a frame-to-frame remake of the sports comedy-drama Champions. As the film’s release nears, it remains to be seen whether the controversy will fade or impact public perception of Aamir Khan’s latest cinematic effort.
