Actors Karishma Khemu and Sadia Khateeb revisit Kashmiri roots, sharing family memories

Actress Karishma Khemu posted an Instagram video of her return to her family's ancestral house in Srinagar, showing her mother recounting the rooms they once lived in before being forced to leave in 1990 during the Kashmiri Pandit exodus. She described how the once‑large home has now been divided into separate rented spaces, noting the loss of original stairways and electricity. Producer‑activist Ashok Pandit responded, calling the story “every Kashmiri Pandit’s story” and expressing his silence at the recollection.

Actress Sadia Khateeb also spoke about her deep connection to Kashmir, stating, “Being a Kashmiri girl, my roots are deeply connected to this land,” and describing how returning to Bhadarwah renews her sense of belonging. She highlighted the region’s food, scenery, and friendships as sources of personal peace and identity, while promoting her upcoming film “Silaa.”

Both narratives underscore the lingering emotional impact of the 1990 displacement on Kashmiri families and the enduring attachment to their homeland.