Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s much-anticipated Bollywood film Abir Gulaal will not release in India, government sources confirmed.
The decision comes amid a surge of nationwide grief and outrage over the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 25 tourists and a local Kashmiri were killed.
Scheduled for a May 9 release, the film also stars Indian actress Vaani Kapoor and is directed by Aarti S Bagdi. Produced by Vivek B Agrawal, the project faced opposition from the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) earlier this month, even before the attack occurred, due to ongoing strained ties between India and Pakistan. The backlash intensified following the tragedy.
According to sources in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, India, several cinema chains declined to screen the film, and multiple entertainment bodies urged the boycott. The ministry has now reportedly denied the film’s release altogether.
Fawad Khan, expressing sorrow over the attack, posted on Instagram, “Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims…”
In the aftermath, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), representing over 500,000 industry professionals, reiterated its long-standing ban on Pakistani talent in Indian media. “We are compelled to enforce a blanket boycott on all Pakistani artists… Anyone violating this will face disciplinary action,” FWICE stated.
This is not the first time cross-border collaborations have sparked controversy. Similar instances followed the 2016 Uri and 2019 Pulwama attacks, with major films like Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Raees facing boycotts due to casting Pakistani actors.
