Madhuri Dixit under fire for alleged collaboration with blacklisted Pakistani promoter

Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene is under fire for her collaboration with Rehan Siddiqi, a Houston-based promoter of Pakistani origin who has been blacklisted by the Indian government due to alleged links with the ISI. The controversy erupted on Friday, June 28, when columnist and political commentator Sunanda Vashisth highlighted the issue on social media.Madhuri Dixit’s Controversial CollaborationSunanda Vashisth shared a poster of the upcoming event featuring Madhuri Dixit and Rehan Siddiqi, scheduled for August 2024 in Houston, Texas, just a day after India's Independence Day. Vashisth took to Twitter, urging Madhuri to reconsider her participation in the event due to Siddiqi's alleged connections and blacklisted status.Government Concerns and Public OutcryVashisth's tweet included a letter from four years ago by BJP Minister Kishan Reddy, then MoS Home Affairs, which explicitly stated that Rehan Siddiqi was blacklisted by the Indian government. In her post, Vashisth expressed her shock and disappointment:"Shocked to see @MadhuriDixit collaborate with a Pakistani origin promoter who has been on the radar of Indian agencies and has been blacklisted by Govt of India. Minister @kishanreddybjp as MoS Home had publicly announced that Houston based Pakistani origin promoter, Rehan Siddiqi has been blacklisted and had requested Bollywood celebrities to not work with him," she said in her post.Appeal to Madhuri DixitVashisth further appealed to Madhuri Dixit's friends, family, and fans to inform her about Siddiqi's background and persuade her to cancel the collaboration. She stated the disheartening impact such associations have on India's security forces and those who have sacrificed their lives for the country’s safety. The actress is yet to comment on the same.Here is the letter by Minister @kishanreddybjp who was then MoS Home. I am not sure why @MadhuriDixit has chosen to work with this individual who has worked against Indian interests. I hope she can cancel this collaboration as soon as possible. pic.twitter.com/yyOeClE0yw— Sunanda Vashisht (@sunandavashisht) June 28, 2024This incident follows another recent controversy involving Madhuri Dixit. Last month, the actress faced backlash after posting, and subsequently deleting, a message condemning Israel's missile strike on Rafah.On the professional front, Madhuri Dixit recently produced the Marathi film Panchak, starring Addinath Kothare, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Bharti Achrekar, and others earlier this year. She is currently involved in the shooting of Dance Deewane 3 and is yet to announce her upcoming projects.Also Read: Maniesh Paul reacts to a scene from The Fame Game; Madhuri Dixit responds