The upcoming film Abir Gulaal, featuring Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor and popular Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, has found itself at the center of a growing controversy. The movie, which was originally slated to release in India on May 9, has been facing an intense public and political backlash following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, which occurred on April 22, left the nation shaken. It claimed the lives of 26 individuals, most of whom were tourists visiting the scenic Baisaran area of Pahalgam. The tragic event has triggered strong emotions across the country, with widespread grief soon giving way to public outrage—particularly on social media. Amid this atmosphere, Abir Gulaal has become the focus of anger, mainly due to the presence of a Pakistani actor in the lead role.
Social media users have been actively calling for a boycott of the film, labeling it insensitive and inappropriate under the current circumstances. This online movement gained traction immediately after the teaser was released on April 1. As calls for the boycott intensified, evidence began to emerge that the film’s promotional activities were being quietly scaled down. Two previously released songs from the film, “Khudaya Ishq” and “Angreji Rangrasiya,” have recently disappeared from YouTube India. These tracks were originally published on both the official channel of the production house and the music label Saregama’s channel, which holds the music rights. However, users quickly noticed that both videos had been taken down, with no explanation offered by the producers or distributors.
Adding to the speculation was the sudden halt in the release of the third promotional track titled “Tain Tain,” which had been announced for release on Wednesday. As of now, the song has not been made public, and no official statement has been issued regarding the delay or cancellation. The absence of updates from the film's makers has only fueled further speculation about the film’s future. According to sources within the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, the film Abir Gulaal will not be released in Indian theaters. Though an official announcement is still awaited, sources suggest that the decision was made in light of the rising tensions and widespread protests that erupted after the Pahalgam tragedy.
One of the most vocal opponents of the film’s release has been the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional political party led by Raj Thackeray. The party has long been known for its hardline stance against cultural collaboration between India and Pakistan. In a public statement, MNS leaders argued that allowing a film with a Pakistani lead actor to release in India would be disrespectful to the sentiments of Indians—especially in the wake of the attack in Kashmir. This is not the first time a film featuring a Pakistani actor has faced resistance in India, but the proximity of the Abir Gulaal release to the Pahalgam incident has significantly intensified the response. The MNS protest and the broader public backlash have led to mounting pressure on the filmmakers and distributors to distance themselves from the project or delay its release indefinitely.
Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, Abir Gulaal was billed as an emotional drama with a strong ensemble cast that includes Riddhi Dogra, Lisa Haydon, Farida Jalal, Soni Razdan, Parmeet Sethi, and Rahul Vohra in key roles. The film was set to explore themes of identity, displacement, and cross-cultural unity—topics that now appear to be particularly sensitive given the prevailing national mood. While the film may have had noble intentions, the current socio-political environment in India is not conducive to its release. As tensions between India and Pakistan continue to simmer, any form of cultural exchange is bound to face scrutiny. For now, it appears that the makers of Abir Gulaal are silently retreating in the face of overwhelming public and governmental pressure.
The removal of content, delayed promotional activities, and the reported ban suggest that the project may not see the light of day in India. Whether this film will eventually release on a digital platform or find an audience elsewhere remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that in today’s climate, even art is not immune to the ripple effects of politics and public sentiment.
