Allegations of Ties to Pakistani Army Leave Indian Actress “Imanvi” Shaken

Iman Ismail, a young actress from the South Indian film industry known by her stage name “Imanvi,” recently broke her silence on false rumors about her identity that spread after the Pahalgam attack. In a social media statement, she addressed the baseless claims and strongly condemned the hate campaign against her.

Imanvi, who starred alongside famous actor Prabhas in the movie Fauji, dismissed the false allegations about her background circulating online. In her post, she first expressed deep sorrow over the Pahalgam attack and extended condolences to the affected families. She described the incident as tragic, claiming innocent lives and leaving hearts shattered. As an artist, she emphasized her commitment to spreading love, light, and harmony through her work, hoping for a future where people live in peace and unity.

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However, the main purpose of her post was to firmly reject accusations linking her to Pakistan or the Pakistani military. After the attack, rumors surged on social media, claiming Imanvi had Pakistani roots and that her family allegedly had ties to the military. She denied these allegations, stating that the misinformation spread through fake news was entirely false and aimed at promoting hatred and division. She clarified that no one in her family had ever been associated with the Pakistani military and blamed certain elements for fabricating the narrative. She also expressed disappointment that some credible journalists and news platforms shared these claims without verification.

Highlighting her background, Imanvi explained that she is an Indian-born American fluent in Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati, and English, who earned her place in the Indian film industry through hard work. Despite her clear explanation, critics continued questioning her identity. One user pointed out that her social media bio once displayed flags of both India and Pakistan, with Imanvi calling herself “half-Indian, half-Pakistani,” questioning what had changed. Others raised concerns about her distancing herself from her Muslim identity, which she had previously embraced.

Fauji, the film featuring Prabhas and Imanvi, is a war drama depicting a soldier’s struggle for his land and people. Co-starring Mithun Chakraborty and Jaya Prada, the movie’s producers have yet to respond to the controversy, which could impact its success.