Indian-American actress Iman Esmail, known professionally as Imanvi, has firmly denied allegations of her family's alleged ties to the Pakistani military, following a surge of online backlash in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir.
The tragic incident, which claimed the lives of 28 civilians, has left the community deeply shaken. In the emotionally charged atmosphere that followed, social media users began circulating unverified claims that Imanvi’s father had once served as a Major in the Pakistan Army before the family emigrated to the United States.
Addressing the controversy, Imanvi issued a strong statement on Instagram, dismissing the allegations as "baseless lies" spread by online trolls. "I am a proud Indian-American," she wrote, emphasizing her heritage and condemning attempts to malign her reputation through unfounded rumors.
Imanvi is set to make her Bollywood debut opposite superstar Prabhas in the upcoming war drama Fauji, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi. The film, which was announced last year, has generated significant anticipation. While the film’s production team has not yet commented on the matter, Imanvi's statement has been met with widespread support from fans, many of whom have called for an end to the smear campaign against the actress.
The controversy underscores the volatile environment on social media platforms, particularly when national security incidents trigger heightened emotions.
