His Abir Gulaal co-star Vaani Kapoor took this step when India inserted Fawad Khan's Bollywood comeback
The film is produced by Indian Story and a rich lens in conjunction with Aarjay Pictures, and the film is scheduled to be released in India on May 9, 2025.
The Pahargam terrorist attacks led to strong opposition to Indian and Pakistani artists, triggering a diplomatic division between the two countries. As tensions escalate, the Indian entertainment industry has witnessed the removal of Pakistan’s talent. Abir Gulaal, a film that was joined by Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor, was one of the first major casualties of the crackdown. The ban not only affected the film’s prospects, but also its cast.
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who was designated as a highly anticipated comeback, found his project facing uncertainty as he grew hostility to Indian Pakistani artists. In this controversy, Vaani Kapoor decided to keep his distance from the film. She chose to scrub all traces of Abir Gulaal from her social media profile, probably to avoid potential objections or associations with projects that might be considered pro-Pakistan.
Vaani deleted all mentions of her upcoming film Abir Gulaal from her social media handle after the film faced an Indian ban. Romantic comedy starred in Vaani along with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan. The ban came after the terrorist attacks and affected the prospects of the film in the Indian market. The Indian government blocked the Instagram accounts of several Pakistani artists, including Fawad Khan, Atif Aslam and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, on grounds that they comply with local laws. This is a similar block on the profile of Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan and Ali Zafar.
Directed by Aarti's Bagdi, Abir Gulaal is a romantic comedy that explores love. The film’s introduction reads: “Two wounded souls, accidentally gathered together, find solace in each other’s companies and gradually develop a deep connection that brings love into one.” The film is produced by Indian Story and a rich lens in conjunction with Aarjay Pictures, the film is scheduled to be released in India on May 9, 2025.
