Pakistani-born Coronation Street star Marc Anwar sacked for racism after calling Indians 'b******s' in Twitter rant

• Marc Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Coronation Street referred to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter 
• Following his rant on social media he was reportedly fired from the show
• ITV said they were 'deeply shocked' by the 'racially offensive comments' 
• Comments come days after an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir 

Pakistan-born Coronation Street actor Marc Anwar has been fired from the soap for a racist rant on social media.

Mr Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Corrie, referred to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter.

On his account - which ironically says 'it's not what you say, but what you do' - he also wrote: 'Why the f*** do Pakistani artists want to work in f***face India? Do you love money so much?'  

His comments come days after an attack on an Indian army base in Kashmir killed 18 soldiers. India claimed Pakistan was behind the attack, something it has denied.

+4

Marc Anwar, 45, who plays the role of Sharif Nazir in Corrie, referred to Indians as b******s' and 'p***-drinking c***s' on Twitter

An ITV spokesman told the Sunday Mirror: 'We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar.

'We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.' 

Mr Anwar, from Rochdale, joined Coronation Street in 2014 to play the role of Kal's [Jimi Mistry] father in what was the first Muslim family on the show. 

In the soap he is a businessman and had recently been at the centre of a storyline surrounding a seven year long affair and new blackmail plot.

The Sunday Mirror alerted ITV bosses to the Twitter rant and the actor was reportedly sacked within hours. 

ITV said in a statement: 'We are deeply shocked by the entirely unacceptable, racially offensive comments made on Twitter by Marc Anwar.

'We have talked to Marc and, as a consequence of his comments, he will not be returning to Coronation Street with immediate effect.'

+4

Mr Anwar, from Rochdale, joined Coronation Street in 2014 to play the role of Kal's [Jimi Mistry] father in what was the first Muslim family on the show

+4

In the soap he is a businessman and had recently been at the centre of a storyline surrounding a seven year long affair and new blackmail plot, but he will now be cut out of the soap

Mr Anwar also attacked Indian PM Narendra Modi and Pakistan leader Nawaz Sharif in an offensive tweet.

He wrote: 'F***ing Indians killing our #Kashmir brothers and sisters, beygairth Nawaz Sharif still sucking Modi. Lul!'

Last night the actor - whose Twitter account is now locked to private - reportedly deleted two of his most offensive messages. 

Just two months ago he was pictured with police endorsing their campaign against hate crime.   

The 45-year-old, who appeared in the 51st State starring Samuel L Jackson, is the first Corrie star to be sacked since Chris Fountain in 2013.

He was fired after being filmed wearing a Halloween mask and delivering a number of obscene and expletive-filled rhymes, which included boasts of violence and rape.

Campaigners welcomed ITV's decision to sack him last night.  

Fiyaz Mughal, director of the charity Faith Matters, said: 'It's unacceptable for anyone today to put material online that targets a segment of a population. You can't just blame a whole group of people for a conflict.

'Marc needs to reflect, and in a way retract what he said, and understand you can't go online and add fuel to the fire. 

Baroness Hussein-Ece, a Liberal Democrat and anti-racism campaigner, said: 'He is a public figure and he's gone about this in the wrong way.' 

The actor's comments come amid escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. 

It follows 10 weeks of protests in Kashmir, in which almost 90 people have died, the vast majority of whom were civilians. 

Pakistan's PM claimed India was carrying out an unprecedented arms build-up in the region, while India described Pakistan as a terrorist state. 

This has raised fears of a military confrontation between the two countries. 

MailOnline has contacted Mr Anwar for a response.   

Police launch a race-hate probe into sacked Coronation Street star Marc Anwar hours after he issues a grovelling video apology