Renowned Bollywood actor and director Ajay Devgn is under heavy fire on Indian social media after old photos of him with Pakistani cricket star Shahid Afridi went viral. The pictures, originally taken during the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2024, have resurfaced amid rising Indo-Pak tensions and the recent cancellation of a high-profile cricket match.
Many social media users mistakenly assumed the photos were recent, further fueling controversy and criticism. Users questioned Devgn’s loyalty to India, expressing anger over his friendly appearance with a Pakistani player during a politically sensitive time.
Context Behind the Viral Photos
The images were captured during WCL 2024 — a legends cricket league featuring retired stars from various countries. Ajay Devgn was involved in the tournament as a co-owner of one of the teams, and Shahid Afridi was playing for the Pakistani side.
Tensions escalated when a potential match between India and Pakistan in WCL was cancelled, reportedly due to political pressure. Following this, fans began criticizing Afridi’s inclusion in the tournament and Devgn’s association with it.
The timing of the photo resurfacing has sparked public outrage. Many believe the photo sends a wrong message in the current political climate, despite the fact that the image was taken well before the recent controversies began.
Social Media Reacts: ‘Ajay Only Pretends to Be Patriotic’
Several Indian netizens harshly criticized Devgn, claiming he only promotes patriotism on-screen but not in real life. Comments ranged from accusations of “double standards” to calls for a boycott of his upcoming films.
“Now he’ll make another patriotic movie to fix his image,” one user commented.
“You can’t trust any Bollywood actor anymore,” another wrote.
Despite the backlash, sources confirmed that the photos were taken long before any political tensions or match cancellations, and were simply shared again due to the current sensitive environment.