Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri are Nepali ISI operatives: Anupumpkin Kher

E-Paper | June 04, 2026

It was recently revealed that famous Indian actor, Anupumpkin Kher, would in fact not be attending a literature festival in Karachi to be held on February 5th, because he had not received his visa.

Indian media reported that Kher's visa was rejected by the Pakistani High Commission, but that's only the beginning of this saga.

Amidst claims that the Pakistani High Commission in Delhi had never received his visa application, Kher lashed out at the whole debacle on Twitter.

Disclaimer: This article is categorised as satire.

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Nadeem F. Paracha is a researcher and senior columnist for Dawn Newspaper and Dawn.com. He is also the author of ten books on the social and political history of Pakistan.

He tweets @NadeemfParacha

Anupam Kher expresses outrage on Twitter at Pak visa denial snafu

India has been very generous in granting visas to Pakistani artists: Anupam Kher

Too scared to say I'm Hindu in India: Anupam Kher

Irfan_Sydney

Feb 04, 2016 12:02pm

Very funny. Made me laugh . . . . .

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prince

Feb 04, 2016 12:04pm

this is the difference between indian media and pakistan media.....

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Shahryar Shirazi

Feb 04, 2016 12:05pm

Dawn, these tweets are on a lighter note. You shouldn't have quoted them in the head line as a serious statement in qoutes from Anupam Kher. Its not fair to him.

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mhw

Feb 04, 2016 12:05pm

that show his tolerance .. bohat hulka nikla yeh tu....

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Saqlainn Zaidi

Feb 04, 2016 12:14pm

Fit scene..... Thank you NFP .. you made me enjoy my Willing Suspension of disbelief.

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Moe

Feb 04, 2016 12:15pm

Nadeem, Stop it...lol

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Khalid_Toronto

Feb 04, 2016 12:15pm

He's gonna get a selfie with Modi jee. great....

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Armughan

Feb 04, 2016 12:17pm

if the reports are correct and he never applied for one, it is actually pretty funny and shameful at the same time. he has been to Pakistan before and in an interview prior to his departure, he had nothing but praise for the hospitality.

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sak(usa)

Feb 04, 2016 12:18pm

Hilarious. Anupam Khr is paranoid .

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Saira

Feb 04, 2016 12:19pm

Iceland Literary Festival. LOL!! Best thing about NFP's satire remains how he makes the absurd so subtle.

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ummer

Feb 04, 2016 12:21pm

I was fond of Anupum kher as he raises social issues through his acting. Now I suspect his credibility. He has joined the goons as he disrespect the humanity. Actors are beyond borders persons who are moved by everyone, but kher seems to me to follow specific edeology i.e . Hindutva. I hate you

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Jayakumar

Feb 04, 2016 12:22pm

Thank you Nadeem sahib. As usual it was great reading your column. For starting a day with laughter & full of positive emotions.

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mano

Feb 04, 2016 12:23pm

NFP Hahahahahahahaha good job again.

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Muhammad Ali

Feb 04, 2016 12:23pm

LOL! Guess what i didn't see it was NFP, i was wondering is Anumpum Kher really that much stupid( although he is)!!

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Ahmed USA

Feb 04, 2016 12:28pm

Haha... Nadeem bhai you are hilarious... Please send Mr. Anupumpkin Kher a visa invitation to attend world famous Halloween Lit Fest in Quetta... :)

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Amit

Feb 04, 2016 12:32pm

Seriously ... What the headlines say and what the contents ...

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Faisal

Feb 04, 2016 12:36pm

Coming out of now where, by the one and only NFP, kudos to the wonderful humor.

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Gilgit Baltistan

Feb 04, 2016 12:37pm

Best DP and Words together for Anu Sahaab.. jokes apart I want say I am a Big Fan of Anu sahaab.

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Saira

Feb 04, 2016 12:45pm

Hey Dawn, stop spoiling NFP satirical articles by putting 'This is a satire' disclaimers!! He is a master of making hilariously absurd stuff so believable. :)

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Saira

Feb 04, 2016 12:47pm

Hey Dawn, stop spoiling NFP satirical articles by putting 'This is a satire' disclaimers!! He is a master of making hilariously absurd stuff so believable. :) So many taking such pieces by him seriously is half the fun. Remember his Malala piece. :)

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Indian

Feb 04, 2016 12:50pm

naseeruddin and ompuri are not kashmiri but Anupam kher is :)

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Indiana Janardhan

Feb 04, 2016 12:54pm

I used to like NP satires, but lately i have seen him getting increasingly anti-Indian. Good for local consumption.

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irfan

Feb 04, 2016 12:54pm

Selfie with Modi ? What a big achievement for Mr kher. Only kher is behind this. Loyal

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Feroz

Feb 04, 2016 01:00pm

Some people like to be in the limelight all the time. They should be ignored, rather than given attention which they crave.

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Ghani

Feb 04, 2016 01:01pm

@Indiana Janardhan How selfish and biased of you. NFP is anti-jingoism and anti-fanaticism no matter who is it coming from. Have a sense of humour. Anu has been talking reactionary stuff. NFP is one of the most unbiased people. He just satirizes reactionary stuff. And he does it in the most tasteful and subtle ways.

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Sudhanshu Swami

Feb 04, 2016 01:01pm

All tweets are of 20 jan 13 exactly at 3:41 PM ! thats big satire.

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Akbar Sait

Feb 04, 2016 01:03pm

Very clever and entertaining article by NFP. Dare I mention the unfortunate fact that in India and Pakistan that the personalities of political leaders and their supporters (and their irrelevant opinions) overshadow the most important priority, the need to improve the living conditions and prospects for the poorest and weakest in society.

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Ashok Saigal

Feb 04, 2016 01:10pm

Hahaha!! Great. And the whole matter needs to be taken just so lightly!

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Feb 04, 2016 01:16pm

Mr. Nadeem F Paracha can write anything.

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A Pakistani Fan of Mr.Aupam Kher

Feb 04, 2016 01:20pm

Oh my God. I couldn't believe the kind of outrage Mr.Kher is spewing due to this controversy. His response justifies the decision of Pakistan High Commission by refusing his visa application if he ever submitted to it. I am so dejected to see the kind of comment from a person of his stature.

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Parvez

Feb 04, 2016 01:23pm

NFP, that was brilliant........you absolutely voiced my thoughts.

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Apache

Feb 04, 2016 01:27pm

Once again NFP made us all laugh!

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Mrs.khalil

Feb 04, 2016 01:31pm

No one knows , Anupam Kher stoop so low, one good thing comes with whole controversy , real personality of this actor revealed.

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darkPassenger

Feb 04, 2016 01:32pm

Not that funny. Nothing could beat the Obama visit satire :) That was the masterpiece. After that its kinda downfall NFP. Please bring back the old days

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Jawad

Feb 04, 2016 01:32pm

I love kher but after what he did on visa refusal he lost all my respect it seemed like he wanted this to happen to make Pakistan look lower.

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irfan farooqui

Feb 04, 2016 01:37pm

oh God!!!! for god sake Nadeem sahab......in the beginning I thought its a real news..... :)

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Umair

Feb 04, 2016 01:42pm

hahaha. good one.

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Pakistani

Feb 04, 2016 01:54pm

I am confused. Who gave him this idea that visa was his right?

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Faraz Khan

Feb 04, 2016 02:16pm

Totally on the spot

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Changez_Khan

Feb 04, 2016 02:19pm

Excellent article and very funny. May be Afghanistan will issue him visa.

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AKG

Feb 04, 2016 02:24pm

Hahaha...maar daala zalim

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Lokesh

Feb 04, 2016 02:29pm

Funny..More funniest part is people are serious about it LOL :)

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Sarcastic Scoundrel

Feb 04, 2016 02:31pm

@mhw .. well put ...

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Nasiroski

Feb 04, 2016 02:35pm

Nicely done, I like Anupam Kher as an actor but it was unfortunate to see him getting involved in the politics in a bitter/divisive way.

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Devil

Feb 04, 2016 02:35pm

Good one :-) Anupumpkin ! lolz

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Feb 04, 2016 02:46pm

Nice One :)

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Peshawai

Feb 04, 2016 02:47pm

Now you can see why his visa was refused or should have been refused.Good decision by Pak High Commision

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Feb 04, 2016 02:47pm

@Indian he said Nepalese. :) too much Kashmir on your minds .. giving you trouble eh? it belongs to Kashmiri people. accept it.

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Hindustani

Feb 04, 2016 02:48pm

hahaha

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Taimoor Khan

Feb 04, 2016 03:04pm

@Indiana Janardhan You were liking him before when he was dissing his own and Pakistan? Enjoy!

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AAK1

Feb 04, 2016 03:04pm

@Shahryar Shirazi This is a satirical piece. On the other hand, do you think it is fair to say talk rubbish about our country by Mr. Kher.

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Ghalib

Feb 04, 2016 03:05pm

Thumbs up , funny

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Don't ask

Feb 04, 2016 03:09pm

@A Pakistani Fan of Mr.Aupam Kher Relax, this is satire. He didn't actually say exactly this.

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Abdulla Hussain

Feb 04, 2016 03:24pm

Anupamkin Kher??

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Muhammed Ali UK

Feb 04, 2016 03:32pm

I used to admire Mr Kher not any more.

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hammad khan

Feb 04, 2016 03:34pm

Very funny ...

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Noor

Feb 04, 2016 03:51pm

@Indiana Janardhan thats cz u cant handle indian criticism. ... this is satire .. NFP strikes everyone ;p chill

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Pak Khan

Feb 04, 2016 04:00pm

@INDIANA JANARDHAN The thing is that you guys love it when he mocks Pakistan, but dont find it funny when he does same to India.

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Feb 04, 2016 04:07pm

Hi NFP You are all time great. Right fron "A concise guide to Pakistan" when i first read you. Keep it up.....

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Talha Zafar

Feb 04, 2016 04:11pm

I was not expecting this from anupumpkin (as satirely called), as he quietly denounced Pakistan over this trivial issue. If I remember, many of the Indian counterparts are denied entry or visa at the eleventh hour because of any reason (may be security reasons as they call it) but no one complaints. If I remember, three years ago, Javed Akhtar was supposed to make it to KLF but did not because he was denied entry at the Wagah due to security reasons.

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Saleem

Feb 04, 2016 04:19pm

Simply epic :)

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Saleem

Feb 04, 2016 04:20pm

Simply epic:)

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Akil Akhtar

Feb 04, 2016 04:23pm

I support Pakistan govts decision

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shazts

Feb 04, 2016 04:28pm

i think everybody missed out the point that this is not the actual Anupum kher the author is referring to. Read title AnuPUMPKIN kher...

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Lalit

Feb 04, 2016 04:31pm

I am not sure what to think of this????

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Mishra

Feb 04, 2016 04:39pm

HAHAHAHA.. For a second I thought its true

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Mohyal

Feb 04, 2016 04:47pm

very funny. Nice Take on Anupam kher and his rapid fire tweets. However I feel Pakistan has not played fair by denying him a visa. He is a respected actor and a very intelligent man. Just because his views don't match yours should not mean he is banned from entry.

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Mohyal

Feb 04, 2016 04:51pm

After reading the comments one gets a feeling that half the readers don't get that this is just a parody...

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Feb 04, 2016 04:52pm

nice 1

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An Indian

Feb 04, 2016 04:57pm

Some readers cannot understand that these twits are creation of NFP. They are thinking these are real twits of Anupam Kher. Twit dates are 2013 and we are in 2016.So,people should understand, this is a piece of satire.

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Arslan

Feb 04, 2016 04:58pm

hahahaha ... thought those were real tweets until the end of the article was reached ... beauty by NFP!!

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Javed Arshad

Feb 04, 2016 05:05pm

While any embassy has the right to deny visa to anyone, he should prove his case by showing some proof of rejection. As it is, he says my visa is rejected, embassy says they never received an application !

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SHKT

Feb 04, 2016 05:23pm

@Shahryar Shirazi Read the headline again...carefully look at the name to which the statement is attributed.

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Masood

Feb 04, 2016 05:36pm

Excellent,

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APakistani

Feb 04, 2016 06:14pm

hahahahaaaaa

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Adnan

Feb 04, 2016 06:20pm

@Pak Khan Lack of tolerance

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Feb 04, 2016 06:21pm

Pakistanis should boycott his movies. There are loads of other Indian actors who want peace and are wonderful people. We should watch theirs.

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Syed Imran Farogh

Feb 04, 2016 06:21pm

hahahahahahahahahhahahahh CRAZY stuff

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Vasudevan M.R.

Feb 04, 2016 06:23pm

Outrageously funny as usual.

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Shahryar Shirazi

Feb 04, 2016 06:31pm

@SHKT Oh, I just realized this is an NFP piece :)

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Taimoor

Feb 04, 2016 06:43pm

:)I like Kher without Anupam!:)

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Zain Syed

Feb 04, 2016 06:54pm

Some readers may take this seriously! That would be unfair to Anupam Khair, Naeeruddin Shah and Om Puri!

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abe

Feb 04, 2016 07:05pm

Good one!

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Frankenstein

Feb 04, 2016 07:15pm

The moment i saw the heading I scrolled down to find the authors name because I knew who would it be

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Unnikrishnan

Feb 04, 2016 07:24pm

Should have been Anupumkin Kheer" .... he is such a sweet

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original realist

Feb 04, 2016 08:19pm

Sadly, a few readers have failed to note that this is 'satire', not 'news'.

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Sanjoy Sankar Guha

Feb 04, 2016 08:48pm

I think Anupam Kher has totally lost his balance.

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rainman

Feb 04, 2016 08:48pm

These tweets are not from Anupam Kher

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Ali

Feb 04, 2016 09:15pm

you gotta be kidding me.. is this for real? may be his account is hacked. i mean i dont think any body can be so idiotic

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Hum

Feb 04, 2016 09:29pm

@A Pakistani Fan of Mr.Aupam Kher This article is a satire. These are not real tweets of Anupam Kher. Read what is written below article.

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Rashid

Feb 04, 2016 09:59pm

Love it!!! lol..

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Zulfiqar Naig

Feb 04, 2016 10:41pm

Hilarious....

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venkob

Feb 04, 2016 11:11pm

hahaha. Nadeem, this smile is for you and your writing fell flat. better luck next time.

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Faizan

Feb 05, 2016 12:15am

For the first time i liked NFP. Well done for producing a great satire.

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Sajid Ansari

Feb 05, 2016 12:58am

If he wanted to come to Pakistan, he most certainly is not helping his cause. He is sounding more and more irrational.

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Raheel

Feb 05, 2016 01:07am

O come on !!! These are funny tweets you can't go so harsh on him .

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kdspirited

Feb 05, 2016 01:07am

Loved it. Seriously! Enough Already Anupumpkin Kher

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Tapas

Feb 05, 2016 01:09am

At last got to read some light hearted stuff on this whole Anupam drama! Not sure why Indians get so much carried away by just a celeb tweet! Need to understand that those celebs are only good at acting and we should keep our interests in these celebs limited to their on screen skills and not other topic statements for which these entertainers don't even qualify! I am still figuring why does Kher need a Pak visa to expose Pak terror nexus in front of Pakistanis... you can do that from India also n be safe!

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Valar Morgulis

Feb 05, 2016 01:27am

Awesome satire NFP, as always. It seems like India has these kind of people dime a dozen in their country. Now let's all have our Pumpkin Kheer and let's take this issue lightly.

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Maulik

Feb 05, 2016 01:53am

Loved the disclaimer at the end. Have people become so stupid that you have say that this is a satire? Where did their sense of humor go?

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Saqib Mirza

Feb 05, 2016 01:59am

haha that was hilarious. for a moment I thought those were his real tweets.

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Saqib Mirza

Feb 05, 2016 02:00am

I used to really like him as a actor too before he became an ambassador of hate.

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Ahsan Gul

Feb 05, 2016 02:41am

Mr. Kher could it be an honest your visa goofed incident at the Pakistan embassy? You talk about tolerance and now is the time for you to show. People like you an actor has greater responsibility than a common person to show patience and tolerance. My humble advice. Thanks

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Feb 05, 2016 02:56am

hilarious!!

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shojol

Feb 05, 2016 03:21am

Under the disclaimer, what you want to prove?.... this is a shame

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Alex

Feb 05, 2016 03:27am

Hilarious !! nailed it !!

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Alex

Feb 05, 2016 03:28am

@Amit Exactly, try finding such humor in Indian media :)

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Sensible Desi

Feb 05, 2016 03:44am

@prince no this is difference between Dawn and pakistani media...

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AXH

Feb 05, 2016 06:29am

@Indiana Janardhan - "I used to like NP satires, but lately i have seen him getting increasingly anti-Indian. Good for local consumption." So, as long as NFP keeps criticizing Pakistan, he is hilarious. But, as soon as he pays some attention to the Indians, he is biased. Now, that is funny!!

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Common Pakistani

Feb 05, 2016 07:39am

@Indiana Janardhan so when it was making fun of Pakistanis politicians you were enjoying it but not anymore...this is on the lighter note... be tolerant and enjoy the article.

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Saad

Feb 05, 2016 08:09am

Certainly with the realms of possibility.

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A. Khan

Feb 05, 2016 08:24am

Why not Anupumpkin Kheer?

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Truthistruth

Feb 05, 2016 08:40am

Anupumpkin going nuts!!!, I had so much respect for him watching his movies now feel like to sue him for the money and time I spent on those movies!!

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Truthistruth

Feb 05, 2016 09:02am

He should know that how Pakistanis appreciated his wife Kiron kher and let her worked in great movie called 'khamosh pani' and also we never objected on rest of the Indian actors either come here to visit or work like sawera bhasker,nandita das,om puri,sonu nigham and in the past rekha,vinod khanna,sangeeta bijlani and many more...

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pulak Mukherjee

Feb 05, 2016 10:15am

Thoroughly enjoyed. Good show NFP.

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hnmirza

Feb 05, 2016 10:35am

@Unnikrishnan I love it..."Anupumpkin Kheer.

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xpakistani

Feb 05, 2016 10:55am

A true artist will never get embroiled in politics. Artists should stay away from causing bad relations between different communities in the sub-continent. Instead, they should use their influence in creating greater understanding and peace between people. Up until now Anupam Kher was doing fine, I don't know why he has been spewing venom lately, as if the politicians were not enough to do that job.

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Naushad Khan

Feb 05, 2016 10:58am

Anupam Kher want to make carrier in Politics. as according to me he is not a actor who can get publicity like Amir Khan or Om puri

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Saif

Feb 05, 2016 11:28am

The Hilarious NFP at his very Best!

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jyotsana

Feb 05, 2016 12:08pm

The Pakistani high commission in India had told him not to apply as he will not be granted a visa, it is the third time that he has been rejected a visa, he has a point when he thinks its because he is a Kashmiri Pandit. Otherwise good satire Nadeem Paracha.

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Shyam Lal DADHICHI is

Feb 05, 2016 03:00pm

This is only a satire and be taken in that spirit.

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Bilal Kashmiri

Feb 05, 2016 03:13pm

Anupam Kher is no more kashmiri, he has left kashmir decades back, he is also from minority community which no longer lives in kashmir

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Feb 05, 2016 05:51pm

HAHAHAHA

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mohammed

Feb 05, 2016 06:06pm

@Lalit because you are reading as an INDIAN...... NOW TAKE OF YOUR INDIAN GLASS AND READ AGAIN I am sure you will enjoy.

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ROHIT PANDEY

Feb 05, 2016 07:18pm

Very funny way to look at the issue, I am sure. But, why WAS he denied a visa?

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pkhan

Feb 05, 2016 07:29pm

Anupam always made us laugh. He has continued...

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ali

Feb 05, 2016 09:32pm

Just can say hahahahaha.you nailed it NFP

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KSB

Feb 05, 2016 09:54pm

@A Pakistani Fan of Mr.Aupam Kher Sound like you took it serious ???

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Satyameva Jayate

Feb 05, 2016 10:46pm

The KLF Invitees were advised by Pak Consulate that they should apply for the visa ONLY AFTER an NOC is received from MoFA in Pakistan. Anupam Kher's representative did go to the Pak Embassy many times. (No Satire or Sarcasm that is. It is true and factual)

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Da Spai Mang

Feb 05, 2016 11:30pm

I just can't believe his name is Pumpkin.

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young talent

Feb 05, 2016 11:55pm

Anupumkin is happy now Modi will grant him another Padmashri awaard and make him a president of India and his wife personal Advisor.

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The Last Voice

Feb 06, 2016 01:18am

"Anupumkin" .....lovely.... only Nadeem can do it.... great thought and a brilliant way in articulating it.

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Zulfiqar_Ahmed

Feb 06, 2016 03:36am

Hahha, I thought mr. Kher had really lost his mind.

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Sailay

Feb 06, 2016 07:31am

Happy Halloween. Anu-pumpkin

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Irfan_Sydney

Feb 06, 2016 09:30am

I wasn't happy with Mr Kher's belligerent comments after his visa refusal by Pakistan high commission. To relieve my anger I watched a scene of his move Kerma. In this scene Dilip Kumar slapped him in the beginning of the move. I watched this scene a number of times imagining Dilip Kumar as myself.

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Melbournian

Feb 06, 2016 09:39am

"The grapes are sour" Anupum Kher.

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