A music video featuring Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat and Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh has drawn official scrutiny in the UK following concerns over children appearing with imitation firearms.

The video for the song “Jatt Mehkma”, which has garnered nearly 40 million views on YouTube since its release in November, has been criticized for what some UK officials and commentators are calling a “disturbing glorification of violence.” The four-minute video reportedly shows children brandishing replica assault weapons and shotguns in a stylized shootout scene.

British Member of Parliament Manuela Perteghella, who represents Stratford-upon-Avon, has formally raised the matter with the UK Home Office. The video is said to have been shot at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire and in central Birmingham, and concludes with young boys joining Hayat’s character in opening fire on a group of men.

According to Deadline, sources suggest the Home Office is now considering issuing exclusion orders against both Hayat and Singh — a move that would effectively bar them from entering the UK. Such bans are rarely publicized, and affected individuals are usually notified directly. As of now, no legal action has been confirmed.

“This raises serious questions about the use of imitation firearms and the involvement of minors in violent portrayals,” one source familiar with the case told Deadline.

Hayat, known internationally for her appearance in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel and Pakistani films such as Load Wedding and Actor in Law, has rejected claims of wrongdoing. In a statement, she called the allegations “speculative and misleading,” urging media outlets to verify facts before publishing. “All such targeted misinformation is being documented,” she added.

Yo Yo Honey Singh, one of India’s most prominent hip-hop artists and the subject of a Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, has not yet responded publicly to the controversy.

The music video was directed by Mihir Gulati and produced with logistical support from UK-based Blue Bling Production House. However, the production house’s founder, Vipulkumar Sharma, stated that his team was only involved in coordination and did not participate in the creative direction of the video.

The backlash has not been limited to political circles. Shaykh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, director of the Association of British Muslims and a university chaplain, strongly condemned the video.

“As someone who has worked with at-risk youth for nearly 20 years, I find this deeply troubling,” Armstrong said. “Seeing British children portray gang violence with imitation weapons — filmed here in the UK — is both a moral and potentially legal failure.”

“This isn’t cultural expression,” he added. “It’s reckless glorification of violence disguised as entertainment.”

The controversy has sparked wider debates about online media regulation. While UK media regulator Ofcom has limited authority over platforms like YouTube, Armstrong has called on child protection services to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, the BBC Asian Network has reportedly withdrawn “Jatt Mehkma” from future playlist considerations. A spokesperson for the network stated that music selections are evaluated based on relevance and merit, suggesting the video no longer meets the station’s editorial standards.

Neither the UK Home Office nor West Midlands Police have commented publicly on the ongoing issue.