‘Bringback Abhinandan’: Karan Johar, Big B, Anupam Kher urge Pak to send IAF pilot home

Mumbai, February 28 

Bollywoood celebrities on Wednesday called for peace and wished for the safe return of an Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot who is in Pakistan's custody.

Pakistan said it had Wing Commander Varthaman Abhinandan in its custody.

Here's what the celebrities have to say:

Actress Nimrat Kaur, who comes from an Army background: "Strength and resolve to the family and loved ones of Wing Commander Abhinandan. The nation's prayers and thoughts are with him in this tough hour. May this stoic, dignified officer be back on Indian soil soon." 

The video to be shared with the underlying message loud and clear. Immense respect for #WingCommanderAbhinandan’s exemplary valour and balance. What a true soldier. So proud. #RealHero https://t.co/MQWX7rokwI

— Nimrat Kaur (@NimratOfficial) 27 February 2019

Flimmaker Karan Johar: “Thoughts and strength to #WingCommandarAbhinandan amd his familly....India stands tall and proud with you....”

Thoughts and strength to #WingCommandarAbhinandan amd his familly....India stands tall and proud with you....

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) 27 February 2019

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan: “T 3103 - Abhinandan .. with a bowed head .. congratulations”.

T 3103 - Abhinandan .. शीश झुका कर .. अभिनंदन 🙏

🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

— Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) 27 February 2019

Veteran Actor Anupam Kher: “It is an infinite, special frontier, even the ocean, and the two sailors of the earth have never been defeated by human beings, turning to storms.Salute the courage of #IAF officer #WingCommandorAbhinandan. Indians sitting in every corner of the world are convincing of your bravery and are with you. Jai Hind. ”

यह असीम, निज सीमा जाने,
सागर भी तो यह पहचाने
ईस मिट्टी के पुतले मानव ने कभी न मानी हार,
तूफानों की ओर घुमा दो नाविक निज पतवार।
Salute the courage of #IAF officer #WingCommandorAbhinandan. दुनिया के हर कोने में बैठा भारतीय आपकी बहादुरी का क़ायल है और आपके साथ है।जय हिंद। 🙏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/LxDZSB6SoI

— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) 27 February 2019

 Former beauty queen Sushmita Sen, the daughter of a retired Indian Air Force officer, wrote: "We are all praying for the safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan." 

We are all praying for the safe return of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman #IAF gratitude from the daughter of a retired Indian Airforce officer @fbhutto for choosing humanity first & a way to peace🙏 Dugga Dugga & God bless https://t.co/6ztsyV5Dss

— sushmita sen (@thesushmitasen) 27 February 2019

"To all those who cheered from the sidelines yesterday, with all humility I ask you to read the next sentence. 'He has still not returned'," filmmaker Nikkhil Advani tweeted. 

To all those who cheered from the sidelines yesterday, with all humility I ask you to read the next sentence. “He has still not returned” #wingcommanderabhinandan #SayNoToWar 🙏🙏🙏

— Nikkhil Advani (@nikkhiladvani) 27 February 2019

Farhan Akhtar: “Thoughts with #WingCommanderAbhinandan and his family. Hoping for his early and safe return. #IndianAirForce”.

Thoughts with #WingCommanderAbhinandan and his family. Hoping for his early and safe return. #IndianAirForce

— Farhan Akhtar (@FarOutAkhtar) 27 February 2019

Actress and daughter of Colonel V.K. Jaitley, Celina Jaitly said that Tuesday's action by India was "counter terrorism" and "no civilians (were) hurt, no military personnel targeted/hurt.

"What Pakistan did is an act of war, they targeted military personnel, while no one wants war, Pakistan has aggravated the situation. Praying for Wing Commander Abhinandan's safe return." 

#India action was #counterterrorism no civilians hurt,no military personnel targeted/hurt,what #pakistan did is an act of war,they targeted military personnel,while no one wants war, #pakistan has aggravated the situation.Praying for #wingcommanderabhinandan safe return #jaihind

— Celina Jaitly (@CelinaJaitly) 27 February 2019

Actress Taapsee Pannu re-tweeted the news about Varthaman and said this is what she feared in all "this celebration" after the IAF fighter jets struck terror launch pads in Pakistan on Tuesday.

Now this is why I feared in all this celebration. Now what ! https://t.co/E8lLdurr9h

— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) 27 February 2019

Actress Swara Bhasker said: "Bring back Abhinandan." Some celebrities also urged the media and social media community to be more responsible and to steer clear from spreading anger.

Swara wrote: We hope and pray for the safety of our soldiers and officers. Please stop circulating fake and old videos and creating panic and miscommunication. Things are tense and volatile as it is. Please be responsible.

Veena ji.. Shame on you & ur sick mindset. Your glee is just gross! Our officer is a hero- brave, gracious & dignified in the face of capture. At least some decency from that major in you army who was questioning #WingCommanderAbhinandan or the many Pakistanis suing 4 peace #sick https://t.co/KvJH8ClkmW

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) 28 February 2019

Ranganathan Madhavan: It's a war against terror not between two nations yet. Dear Media—You can actually stop this escalation... Please let's be responsible and work towards peace.

It’s a war against terror not between 2 nations yet. Dear Media —-you can actually stop this escalation .. please let’s be responsible and work towards peace.

— Ranganathan Madhavan (@ActorMadhavan) 27 February 2019

Shekhar Kapur: It's really important not to fan the flames of war rhetoric. It's not a game. You are not facing bullets or bombs. You are not the family praying and hoping fervently that your husbands, brothers or fathers are safe. Nor living in border areas in fear. It's easy to be armchair soldiers.

It’s really important not to fan the flames of war rhetoric. It’s not a game. U r not facing bullets or bombs. U r not the family praying and hoping fervently that your husbands brothers or fathers are safe. Nor living in border areas in fear. It’s easy to be armachair soldiers.

— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) 27 February 2019

Richa Chadha: Can news media be tried for inciting war? For ugly graphics, video game footage, provocative hashtags. Funnily, here is one place we are united eh India, Pakistan—in fake news! 

Can news media be tried for inciting war ? For ugly graphics, video game footage, provocative hashtags ? Funnily, here is one place we are united eh India, Pakistan - in fake news!

— TheRichaChadha (@RichaChadha) 27 February 2019

Vishal Dadlani: Indian or Pakistani, if you have any brains and any love/respect for your soldiers, say it out loud. We don't want war. We need peace. — IANS

Indian or Pakistani, if you have any brains and any love/respect for your soldiers, say it out loud.

We don't want war. We need peace.

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) 27 February 2019