No artist deserves to be treated like a criminal.
Nadia Khan is facing criticism for her aggressive handling of rapper Talha Anjum during a recent television interview.
Anjum had made headlines after draping an Indian flag over his shoulders during a concert, sparking debate across social media platforms.
Some praised him for respecting fans and keeping art free from nationalistic divides, while others criticised the gesture due to India-Pakistan tensions.
Initially, Anjum posted on X that he would “do it again,” stating: “Art has no place for hate and Urdu rap is borderless.”
He later deleted the post and appeared on Rise and Shine, where Nadia Khan questioned him about holding the flag.
During the interview, Khan repeatedly interrupted Anjum, often speaking over him and insisting he apologise for wearing the flag on stage.
She addressed him sarcastically as ‘beta’, asked if he was “sleeping,” and continuously used the word ‘tum’ while pressing her point.
Khan questioned: “Where is your heart?”
At one point, she responded to nearly every sentence of his with “okay?” followed by “and?”, requiring her co-host to intervene.
The entertainment industry quickly reacted, with actors and musicians criticising Khan’s tone as unnecessarily aggressive and disrespectful.
Khaqan Shahnawaz and Yasir Hussain compared her approach to Arnab Goswami, the Indian anchor known for confrontational interviews.
Other industry figures defended Anjum, highlighting that art transcends borders and should not be judged on nationality alone.
Bilal Ali noted that many Pakistani artists have worked in India and received significant career opportunities.
Singer Saif Samejo commented that the media’s reaction “exposes a deep insecurity” and criticised Nadia Khan’s ultra-patriotic tone.
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Actor Sonya Hussyn said that no artist deserves to be treated like a criminal and that Anjum should have been shown respect on television.
She added that the conversation could have been conducted with far more grace, understanding, and professionalism.
Tooba Siddiqui expressed interest in a diss track from Anjum, recognising his reputation as the king of diss tracks in Pakistan.
Kinza Hashmi praised Anjum’s patience and character under pressure, highlighting how he handled the interview with professionalism.
Lawyer and activist Jibran Nasir said Anjum’s act disproved stereotypes of mutual hatred between India and Pakistan.
Nasir explained that waving an Indian flag handed by a fan demonstrates appreciation for shared culture, music, and language.
He added that legal threats or aggressive TV questioning look cheap, desperate, and indicate cultural impoverishment in Pakistani media.
The general public remains divided, with some angered by Anjum’s gesture while others applauded his respectful approach to the fans.
Many echoed support for Talha Anjum, noting that celebrating art does not diminish patriotism or loyalty to Pakistan.
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