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Actor Mehwish Hayat and Indian rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh are under scrutiny in the UK after a music video featuring children wielding imitation firearms triggered an official complaint to the British government, reported Deadline.

The video in question, for the song ‘Jatt Mehkma’, has amassed nearly 40 million views on YouTube since its release last November. While the track continues to enjoy success on YouTube, it has sparked concern among UK officials and social commentators for what critics call a “disturbing glorification of violence.”

Mehwish Hayat has denied any action against her, saying, “These claims are entirely speculative and misleading. I urge responsible media platforms to verify facts before sharing such narratives, especially when they can cause harm and perpetuate false assumptions. All such targeted misinformation is being documented.”

British MP Manuela Perteghella, who represents Stratford-upon-Avon in the West Midlands, has formally raised the issue with the UK Home Office, according to the publication. The four-minute video was reportedly filmed at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire and in Birmingham’s city centre. It ends with four young boys joining Hayat’s character and opening fire, using replica automatic weapons and shotguns, on a group of men.

Sources told Deadline that the Home Office is considering issuing exclusion orders against both Hayat and Singh, which would effectively bar them from entering the country. Such bans are typically not made public and the individuals concerned would be notified in writing of the action. No legal proceedings have been announced so far.

“There are serious concerns about the use of imitation firearms and exposing minors to violent themes,” a source familiar with the matter said.

Hayat, who was featured in Marvel’s Ms. Marvel series and is known for hit Pakistani films like Load Wedding and Actor in Law, has not commented on the complaint. Singh, one of India’s most recognisable hip-hop stars and the subject of the Netflix documentary Yo Yo Honey Singh: Famous, has also remained silent.

The video was directed by Mihir Gulati, with production support from UK-based Blue Bling Production House. However, its founder, Vipulkumar Sharma, clarified that his team only handled logistical aspects of the shoot.

The backlash has not just come from politicians. Shaykh Paul Salahuddin Armstrong, director of the Association of British Muslims and a chaplain at the University of Birmingham, also voiced strong criticism.

“As someone who has worked with vulnerable youth for nearly two decades, I find this incident profoundly disturbing,” he told the outlet. “To see British children brandishing imitation firearms in a stylised gang scene, filmed on our soil and facilitated by UK production companies, is not only a moral failure, but potentially a legal one.

“This is not art. It is the reckless glorification of violence, dressed up as cultural entertainment,” he added.

The video’s popularity has also prompted discussions around media regulation. Armstrong called on child protection authorities to investigate, although the UK media regulator Ofcom has limited jurisdiction over online music videos.

In light of the controversy, ‘Jatt Mehkma’ is reportedly no longer being considered for future BBC Asian Network playlists. A BBC spokesperson stated that each track is evaluated based on its musical merit and relevance to the station’s audience.

The UK Home Office, West Midlands Police, and other authorities involved have declined to give a comment to Deadline.