Fawad Khan's 'Abir Gulaal' won't release in India

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's return to Bollywood with the film Abir Gulaal has hit a roadblock, as sources from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting indicated the movie won’t be released in the country. The decision comes in the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which reignited tensions and led to fresh calls for a boycott of Pakistani artists.

The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has renewed its earlier directive, calling for a complete ban on Pakistani actors, singers, and technicians working in Indian entertainment projects. In a statement, FWICE mentioned that despite existing restrictions, a collaboration had taken place with Fawad Khan for Abir Gulaal, prompting them to enforce a strict non-cooperation stance again. This includes any such collaborations globally.

FWICE had initially issued this directive in 2019 after the Pulwama attack, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. The renewed boycott is being seen as a strong reaction to the recent incident in Pahalgam.

Fawad Khan responded on Instagram, offering condolences to the victims’ families. He expressed sorrow over the tragic event and prayed for strength and healing for those affected.

Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, Abir Gulaal was set to release on May 9, marking Fawad’s return to Bollywood after nearly a decade. His last Hindi film was Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), after which he was barred from working in India post the Uri attack.