Filmmakers Uttam Maheshwari and Nitin Kumar Gupta have come under heavy fire after announcing their upcoming film Operation Sindoor, inspired by India’s response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The backlash erupted following the release of an AI-generated poster promoting the project on social media, which many netizens criticized as insensitive and opportunistic given the heightened India-Pakistan tensions.
While multiple filmmakers reportedly rushed to register the title Operation Sindoor, the official announcement came from Nicky Vicky Bhagnani Films and The Content Engineer. The film’s “first look,” shared via paparazzi accounts like Viral Bhayani’s, described it as “India’s bravest strike based film,” triggering a wave of public outrage.
Amid mounting criticism, director Uttam Maheshwari issued a public apology, clarifying the intent behind the project. “My sincere apologies for recently announcing a film based on Operation Sindoor, inspired by the recent heroic efforts of our Indian Armed Forces,” Maheshwari stated. “The intent was never to hurt or provoke anyone’s sentiments. This project was born out of deep respect and love for our nation—not for fame or monetization.”
Acknowledging the poor timing of the announcement, Maheshwari added, “I understand the sensitivity of the situation and regret any discomfort or pain caused.” He also expressed gratitude toward the Indian Armed Forces and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling the film “an emotion of the entire nation.”
However, criticism continues to mount. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the film industry’s haste in capitalizing on tragedy. Sharing the news on X (formerly Twitter), she remarked, “Shameless vultures.”
Meanwhile, in a related development, India officially rejected Pakistan’s misinformation campaign, which falsely claimed damage to critical Indian military infrastructure.