Veteran actress and singer Salma Agha has sparked a wave of discussion online after saying that she was never a Pakistani citizen, despite spending an important part of her career working in Pakistan’s film industry.
Salma appeared on Jahanzeb Awan’s podcast, where she was asked why she chose to live and work in India rather than Pakistan. In response, she clarified that she did not actually choose between the two countries because, according to her, she had never held Pakistani citizenship.
Salma said her family moved to the UK and holds British passports, while she also highlighted her family’s Indian roots. She described her years working in Pakistan as a memorable professional experience filled with lasting friendships.
During the same conversation, Salma spoke positively about Pakistan’s entertainment industry. She praised its actors, technicians and writers and noted that Pakistani dramas are also popular among viewers in India.
She also stressed that art should not be restricted by borders, saying, “art has no boundaries.” While clarifying her citizenship, Salma also spoke warmly about the years she spent working in Pakistan.
Salma further clarified that she is not an Indian citizen. She said she holds a British passport and an Overseas Citizen of India, or OCI, card that allows her to live and work in India. She was granted the OCI card in 2016, with reports at the time noting that she was a British citizen and had never held Pakistani citizenship.
Her remarks have sparked debate on social media, with some users criticizing her while others argued that citizenship is separate from a person’s professional or cultural connection to a country.
Other commenters pointed to Salma’s long career in Pakistan and her personal ties to the country, including her past marriage to Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh. For some users, those connections have made her association with Pakistan an important part of her public image.
The comments have also renewed interest in Salma’s successful career in Pakistani cinema during the 1980s and 1990s. She became one of the most recognizable stars of the era after appearing in films including Nikah and several other popular projects.