Fawad Khan’s ‘Abir Gulaal’ Banned in India but Set to Storm 75+ Countries on August 29!

The romantic drama Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor, is scheduled for a global release on August 29, 2025, in over 75 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UAE, but will not be released in India due to a ban triggered by geopolitical tensions. Directed by Aarti S Bagdi and produced by Indian Stories and A Richer Lens Entertainment, with producers Vivek Agrawal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy, the film was initially set for an Indian release on May 9, 2025, which would have marked Khan’s return to Indian cinema after nearly a decade.

The film’s release in India was halted following a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, which claimed 26 lives. The attack reignited calls from trade organizations like the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to enforce a ban on Pakistani artists in the Indian film industry.

The controversy intensified after India’s armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terror camps across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, further straining Indo-Pak relations. As a result, Abir Gulaal faced cancellation in India, and the social media accounts of Khan and other Pakistani actors, including Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, were withheld in the country.

The film’s global release follows a similar pattern seen with Sardaar Ji 3, a Punjabi film featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, which was released worldwide on June 27, 2025, except in India. Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh, associated with that project, defended the overseas release, citing financial losses faced by producers due to India’s ban on Pakistani artists. The Abir Gulaal team has not publicly commented on the ban but is proceeding with the international rollout, capitalizing on Khan’s global fanbase and the film’s appeal in markets with significant South Asian diaspora populations.

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The ongoing restrictions reflect a broader cultural and political divide, with Indian trade bodies arguing that banning Pakistani artists is necessary for national security, while critics highlight the impact on artistic collaboration and the financial viability of cross-border projects. As Abir Gulaal prepares to hit international screens, its exclusion from India underscores the challenges faced by filmmakers navigating geopolitical sensitivities.

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