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I am Indian-American: Fauji actress denies Pakistani links amid Pahalgam fallout
Ismail was a victim of online trolling as trolls took her to be of Pakistani origin.
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Malvika Choudhary1 - Thu, 24, Apr 2025
- 13:56 EDT
- 135
Imanvi Ismail/ Members of Indian security personnel patrol on a highway leading to South Kashmir's Pahalgam, following a suspected militant attack, in Marhama village, in Kashmir, April 23, 2025. / Instagram/ REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Indian-American actress Imanvi Ismail, who is making her Telugu film debut in Fauji alongside Prabhas, firmly refuted social media rumors linking her to Pakistan in the aftermath of the April 22 Kashmir terror attack.
Ismail condemned the spread of misinformation targeting her identity after she received a barrage of online attacks on social media from users who targeted Muslim film personalities post the attack that claimed 26 lives.
Also Read: Kashmir police name three militants behind tourists killing, say two are Pakistani
Many users made unfounded allegations of Ismail’s Pakistani origin and demanded her removal from Fauji.
Addressing the rumors, Ismail issued a statement on Instagram, expressing her condolences for the victims of the Pahalgam attack and condemning the violence. She stated, “My heart goes out to all those who lost their lives and their loved ones. Any loss of innocent life is tragic and weighs heavy on my heart. I strongly condemn the violent acts.”
She further clarified her background, stating, “I am a proud Indian American who speaks Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati, and English. I was born in Los Angeles, California after my parents legally immigrated to the United States as youth. Soon after, they became American citizens.”
Ismail also addressed the false claims about her family's alleged ties to the Pakistani military, stating, “Nobody in my family has ever been or is currently associated with the Pakistani military in any way. This and multiple other falsehoods have been fabricated by online trolls for the sole purpose of spreading hate.”
Emphasizing her deep connection to Indian culture and the film industry, Ismail wrote, “As someone who has Indian identity and culture running deep in my blood, I hope to use this medium as a form of unity and not divisiveness.”
Fauji, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, marks Ismail’s entry into Indian cinema and remains on track despite the online backlash. The film is currently scheduled for a Summer 2026 release.
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