Viral dancer Imanvi Esmail, who is all set to make her Indian film debut alongside Prabhas in the upcoming war drama Fauji, has issued a public statement in response to the backlash she received in the wake of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which targeted non-Islamic civilians and tourists. The debutant found herself at the centre of online hate and false narratives questioning her nationality and family background.
Imanvi, who is cast in director Hanu Raghavapudi’s much-anticipated period war drama set in the 1970s, took to social media to clarify her Indian-American roots and strongly condemn the tragic violence in Kashmir. In her statement, Imanvi not only expressed her deep sorrow over the attack but also addressed the misinformation being circulated about her identity, “First and foremost, I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt condolences for the tragic event that took place in Pahalgam. 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. As someone whose mission has always been to spread light and love through art, I hope to see a day soon where we can all come together as one.”
“I also want to address rumors and lies that have been falsely spread about my identity and my family via fake news sources and online media in order to create division and spread hate. Firstly, 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. What is especially disappointing is that legitimate news outlets, journalists, and those on social media failed to investigate their source material and instead have simply repeated these slanderous statements. 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. Upon completing my university education in the USA, I pursued a career in the arts as an actor, choreographer, and dancer. After much work in this realm, I am incredibly grateful to receive opportunities to work in the Indian film industry. This same film industry has been a great influence in my life, and I hope to add to the incredible legacy of the trailblazers that came before me. 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,” she added.
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“As we mourn tragic loss of life, let's continue to spread love and uplift one another. Throughout history, art has been a medium that creates awareness, empathy, and connection across cultures, people, and experiences. I will work hard to ensure that this legacy carries on through my work and uplifts the experiences of my Indian heritage”, she signed off.
Imanvi’s message, which has begun to receive support across sections of the film fraternity and fans, highlights her call for unity and truth in the face of divisiveness. As tensions run high after the Pahalgam incident, her dignified response seeks to centre the conversation on empathy, patriotism, and the healing power of art.
Meanwhile, Imanvi is excited about her film with Prabhas. Speaking further of Fauji, the film also stars stalwarts like Anupam Kher and Jaya Prada and is being positioned as a poignant tribute to India’s armed forces.
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