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Actor Iman Esmail, popularly known as Imanvi, who is set to make her film debut opposite Prabhas in Hanu Raghavapudi's upcoming period action drama Fauji, has responded to recent rumours regarding her identity and family background.
The speculation emerged following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam , with several online posts falsely claiming that she has links to the Pakistani military. Imanvi addressed the controversy in a detailed Instagram statement, condemning the misinformation and reiterating her Indian-American identity.
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Imanvi Responds to False Allegations
In her statement, Imanvi first expressed grief over the Pahalgam terror attack, writing:
"My heart goes out to all those who lost their lives and their loved ones. Any loss of innocent life is tragic and weighs heavy on my heart. I strongly condemn the violent acts."
She then addressed the rumours circulating about her origins:
"I want to address rumours and lies that have been falsely spread about my family and my identity via fake news sources and online media. Firstly, nobody in my family has ever been or is currently associated with the Pakistani military in any way."
She further criticized mainstream media for echoing unverified claims:
"It is especially disappointing that legitimate news outlets and social media users failed to verify sources and repeated slanderous statements."
"I Am a Proud Indian American"
Setting the record straight, Imanvi wrote:
"I am a proud Indian American who speaks Hindi, Telugu, Gujarati, and English. I was born in Los Angeles, California, after my parents legally immigrated to the U.S. as youth and later became American citizens."
She added that after completing her university education in the U.S., she pursued her passion in the performing arts:
"I hope to use this medium [cinema] as a form of unity, not divisiveness. I will work hard to ensure that this legacy carries on through my work and uplifts the experiences of my Indian heritage."
All About Imanvi
Currently a viral name on social media, Imanvi is an actor, dancer, and choreographer. She was born on October 20, 1995, and raised in Los Angeles, California. She holds an MBA degree and is trained in a wide range of dance styles, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Bollywood, hip hop, and jazz.
Her choreography gained massive popularity online, especially her viral performance to the Tamil song Tum Tum, which garnered millions of views. With over 8 lakh Instagram followers and 4.5 lakh YouTube subscribers, she has become a digital sensation.
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Upcoming Film: Fauji
Imanvi will make her silver screen debut opposite Prabhas in Fauji, a period action drama directed by Hanu Raghavapudi and produced by Mythri Movie Makers. The film also stars Mithun Chakraborty and Jaya Prada in key roles.
According to the official synopsis, Fauji is set in the 1940s and follows the journey of a warrior who emerges from a society marred by injustice, bringing to light forgotten truths through the chaos of war.
