Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s much-anticipated Bollywood comeback has hit a roadblock as India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially banned the release of Abir Gulaal following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir.
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Abir Gulaal, a romantic comedy co-starring Vaani Kapoor, was scheduled for a nationwide release on May 9. However, escalating tensions and a growing anti-Pakistani sentiment in the aftermath of the attack have prompted a stringent response from political and entertainment bodies.
The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), which had imposed a ban on Pakistani artists after the 2019 Pulwama attack, reiterated its stance, warning that legal action would be taken against those attempting to screen or support the film. “We will ensure Abir Gulaal isn’t released in India,” a spokesperson for FWICE stated.
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Additionally, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) announced it would not allow the film to be screened in Maharashtra, citing national security and Fawad Khan’s Pakistani origin as reasons for their protest.
Fawad Khan, who had been absent from Bollywood since Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in 2016, took to Instagram to condemn the Pahalgam incident. “The loss of innocent lives is horrific. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” he wrote. However, his statement has done little to quell the storm, as social media users launched hashtags like #BoycottAbirGulaal and #NoPakArtists on X (formerly Twitter).
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This move has reignited debates on cross-border cultural exchange, with critics arguing that banning art and artists contributes little to national security and stifles creative dialogue. Despite a 2023 Bombay High Court ruling dismissing a plea to permanently ban Pakistani artists, the current climate appears to have reversed the trend.
As part of a broader diplomatic fallout, India has also suspended talks on the Indus Waters Treaty and temporarily shut the Attari-Wagah border for cultural transit, signaling a tougher stance on Pakistan-linked collaborations in all spheres.
