As Dhanteras looms closer, Malabar Gold & Diamonds is facing a major boycott following its collaboration with renowned Pakistani influencer Alishba Khalid
Dhanteras is one of India’s biggest gold-buying festivals, but it has now turned into a major PR crisis for Malabar.
Who is Pakistani influencer Alishba Khalid who Malabar Gold and Diamonds collaborated with for its Birmingham store
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The Kerala-based jewelry giant is facing intense backlash and renewed boycott calls online for partnering with Khalid, who made anti-India remarks during Operation Sindoor.
Malabar Gold & Diamonds facing boycott over collaboration with Alishba Khalid
Malabar Gold & Diamonds is currently facing intense backlash and boycott after a video from the inauguration of Malabar Gold’s new Birmingham showroom went viral. The video shows Alishba Khalid, a Pakistani-London-based influencer, as one of the event’s promoters, even posing alongside Bollywood star Kareena Kapoor, who is the brand’s ambassador.
Her appearance in the video enraged Indian netizens who recalled Khalid’s earlier posts mocking India’s military action against Pakistan-based terrorists during the Pahalgam attacks. Malabar responded and claimed that it hired Khalid through a UK agency before those comments surfaced and immediately ended the collaboration after the backlash. The company has also taken legal action by securing an order from the Bombay High Court instructing platforms like Meta and Google to remove all kinds of defamatory content portraying them as “Pakistan sympathizers.”
#BoycottMalabarGold https://t.co/xcNgZkTo3h
— Vijay 🇮🇳 (@katariavj1) October 16, 2025
Alishba Khalid and the Operation Sindoor controversy
Earlier this year, Khalid sparked outrage with her posts during Operation Sindoor, calling India’s military response “a cowardly act” and accusing it of targeting civilians. She wrote:
Shame on you, India! Killing the innocent isn’t strength; it’s pure cowardice. Pakistan Zindabad.”
She has since deleted her posts, but it has spread quickly, with many Indians unfollowing her.
Alishba Khalid biography
Alishba Khalid was born in 1998 and describes herself as a London-based digital creator, filmmaker, and traveler. She is the owner of Downtown Studio London and Downtown Travelers, where she produces content and PR campaigns across Europe and the UK.
Age and height
Alishba Khalid is currently 27 years old and stands at a height of 1.65 meters.
Education
Alishba Khalid reportedly studied media and film production in London.
Influencer career
On the eve of Dhanteras, Kerala-based Malabar Gold & Diamonds faces boycott calls after collaborating with London-based Pakistani influencer Alishba Khalid, who had mocked India’s Operation Sindoor as a “cowardly act.”
Source: India Today pic.twitter.com/yBnMgPsviS
— The Indian Index (@Indian_Index) October 16, 2025
Alishba Khalid has quite a following on social media owing to her online content. Her portfolio includes travel vlogs, brand collaborations, and hosting events.
Boyfriend
Alishba generally prefers to keep her personal life private and hasn’t revealed any current relationship.
Net worth
Alisha Khalid has an estimated net worth of around $250,000, which she mainly earned through brand partnerships, sponsored posts, and her production business.
Alisha Khalid has an Instagram account with the handle @_alishchaudhary99, where she has over 137K followers and 873 posts.