Abir Gulaal Release in Jeopardy Amid Tensions, Fawad Khan's Bollywood
The film's release is now in doubt, and the controversy surrounding it has sparked a wider debate about the role of Pakistani actors in Indian cinema. The situation highlights the complex and sensitive nature of cultural exchange between the two countries, with many calling for a more nuanced approach to the issue.
The release of Fawad Khan's film "Abir Gulaal" in India is uncertain due to heightened tensions following a recent attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which has led to a crackdown on Pakistani media and a review of the film's release by the government.
Pankaj Tripathi expressed sadness and anger over the recent Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives, and deferred to authorities on the question of allowing Pakistani actors to work in Indian cinema. An unofficial ban on Pakistani actors, including Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, and Imran Abbas, has been in place since the Uri terror attack, despite the Bombay High Court rejecting a petition to formalize the ban in 2023.
Indian actress Vaani Kapoor's promotional posts for the film "Abir Gulaal" were deleted from her Instagram account, sparking speculation that she had distanced herself from the film. However, a report clarified that the content was automatically removed by Instagram due to the original posts being deleted by the production team. Fawad Khan's Instagram account is also restricted in India, and several other Pakistani celebrities are affected by similar platform restrictions.
The fate of "Abir Gulaal" remains uncertain, with opposition from right-wing parties and the government's review of the film's release. The development has put Fawad Khan's Bollywood comeback in jeopardy, despite his co-star Vaani Kapoor calling him "born for cinema".