After Pahalgam attack, India pulls plug on Fawad Khan-starrer ‘Abir Gulal’ | Bollywood News

In the wake of the Pahalgam attacks, the movie Abir Gulal starring Pakani actor Fawad Khan will not be released in India, sources in the government have told The Indian Express. A day earlier, in a major diplomatic cutback, India had announced a slew of measures against Pakan, including the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty and SAARC visas.
The movie — which also features actor Vaani Kapoor and was scheduled for release on May 9 — would have marked the Bollywood comeback of Khan, who had earlier featured in Hindi films Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Khoobsurat, and Kapoor & Sons.
After the Pahalgam incident, Khan took to social media to condemn the attack. “Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time,” he wrote on Instagram.
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Co-actor Kapoor also expressed her grief over the incident and wrote, “Have been numb, at a loss for words since the time I saw the attack on innocent people in Pahalgam. Gutted. Devastated. My prayers are with the families.”
Fawad Khan on his Instagram story.
Following the terror attack, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) had earlier announced a ban on Pakani artes, stating they would “take all necessary steps to ensure that Abir Gulal is not released in India.”
In their statement on Wednesday, FWICE condemned the attack and wrote: “In the wake of these repeated attacks, FWICE reaffirms its unwavering commitment to national interest and solidarity. We reiterate our directive, originally issued on February 18, 2019, calling for complete non-cooperation with all Pakani artes, singers, and technicians within the Indian film and entertainment industry.”
The federation also mentioned Fawad and Vaani’s film in the statement and said: “Despite this ongoing directive, we have been made aware of the recent collaboration with Pakani actor Fawad Khan for the Hindi film Abir Gulal. In light of the recent attack in Pahalgam, FWICE is once again compelled to issue a blanket boycott on all Pakani artes, singers, and technicians participating in any Indian film or entertainment projects. This includes performances or collaborations occurring anywhere in the world.”Story continues below this ad
Earlier, the India release of his 2022 Pakani film The Legend of Maula Jatt was stalled due to a legal challenge and protests from a far-right Hindu group. In 2016, Karan Johar’s film Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, with Khan as one of the leads, had come under a cloud after Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena threatened to block its release.

Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues – not necessarily in that order – for The Indian Express. She’s been a journal for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. … Read More