Afghans In Bollywood, Bollywood In Afghanistan

This very detailed piece about Afghanistan's very own "Bollywood history" is a must-read.

Recently, during a podcast, I was asked about the situation of Afghan refugees in India concerning possible language barriers. "How do Afghans understand Indian languages?" my colleague asked me. The answer was very simple. In fact, many Afghans inside and outside the country speak or at least understand Hindi because they have been binge watching Indian Bollywood movies for decades. 

Some people even claim that in the first place, Afghans and their large diaspora made Bollywood famous outside of Asia. 

What is still rather unknown is the fact that many people with Afghan roots are famous Bollywood actors. Ever heard of Shahrukh Khan? Sure, you have. But did you know that his grandfather's family originally came from Afghanistan? In the past, many people from Afghanistan, especially Pashtuns (in India they are called Pathans), migrated to India and gained a footing in the Indian film industry. 

All of the "three Khans", Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Amir Khan, have Afghan roots. While Shahrukh and Salman have Pashtun backgrounds, Amir's ancestors were Persian Tajiks who came from the ancient city of Herat in western Afghanistan, and the picture is similar with many other famous Bollywood actors.