LONDON, July 3 (TNF): Pakistani actor Mehwish Hayat and Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh have come under fire in the United Kingdom following a complaint to the British government about a music video featuring children brandishing imitation guns, Deadline reported.
The video for the song Jatt Mehkma, released last November, has drawn sharp criticism despite racking up nearly 40 million YouTube views. Critics have slammed it for promoting what they describe as the “disturbing glorification of violence,” particularly due to scenes involving minors with replica firearms.
Mehwish Hayat has pushed back against the allegations, describing the reports as speculative and misleading. “These claims are entirely speculative and misleading. I urge responsible media platforms to verify facts before sharing such narratives, especially when they can cause harm and perpetuate false assumptions. All such targeted misinformation is being documented,” she said in a statement.
British MP Manuela Perteghella, representing Stratford-upon-Avon in the West Midlands, has formally flagged the matter to the UK Home Office. The four-minute clip, filmed at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire and in Birmingham’s city centre, ends with four boys joining Hayat’s character and opening fire—using replica automatic weapons and shotguns—on a group of men.
Sources cited by Deadline said the Home Office is considering exclusion orders against Hayat and Singh, which could bar them from entering the UK. Such measures are rarely publicized, with affected individuals typically informed in writing. No legal action has been announced so far.
“There are serious concerns about the use of imitation firearms and exposing minors to violent themes,” a source familiar with the proceedings noted.
Hayat, who gained international fame through Ms. Marvel and Pakistani hits like Load Wedding and Actor in Law, has not addressed the complaint directly. Singh, a major name in Indian hip-hop and the focus of Netflix’s Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, has also remained silent.
The controversial video was directed by Mihir Gulati, with logistical support from the UK-based Blue Bling Production House. Its founder, Vipulkumar Sharma, clarified that his company’s involvement was limited to production logistics.
The outrage has extended beyond political circles. Shaykh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, director of the Association of British Muslims and chaplain at the University of Birmingham, expressed deep concern. “As someone who has worked with vulnerable youth for nearly two decades, I find this incident profoundly disturbing,” he told Deadline. “To see British children brandishing imitation firearms in a stylised gang scene, filmed on our soil and facilitated by UK production companies, is not only a moral failure but potentially a legal one. This is not art. It is the reckless glorification of violence, dressed up as cultural entertainment.”
The controversy has also sparked fresh debate about regulating online content. Armstrong urged child protection agencies to investigate, though UK media regulator Ofcom has limited authority over online music videos.
Following the backlash, Jatt Mehkma is reportedly no longer being considered for BBC Asian Network’s playlists. A BBC spokesperson said music selections are based on artistic merit and relevance to the station’s listeners.
The UK Home Office, West Midlands Police, and other involved authorities have declined to comment on the matter.
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