Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor’s Abir Gulaal Set for Global Release on August 29, Bypassing India Amid Controversy
August 12, 2025
The romantic drama Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor, will premiere in theaters across more than 75 countries on August 29, 2025, excluding India. Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, the film was initially slated for an Indian release on May 9, 2025, but was postponed following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.
The attack sparked renewed tensions, prompting trade organizations like the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to reinforce their ban on Pakistani artists in Indian cinema. This led to the cancellation of Abir Gulaal’s India release, which would have marked Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood. Additionally, social media accounts of several Pakistani celebrities, including Fawad Khan, Hania Aamir, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, Atif Aslam, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, were restricted in India.
Tensions escalated further after Operation Sindoor on May 7, when Indian forces conducted strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Against this backdrop, Abir Gulaal’s producers, Indian Stories and A Richer Lens Entertainment, led by Vivek Agrawal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy, opted for a global release in countries including the UK, UAE, USA, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The decision mirrors the release strategy of Sardaar Ji 3, a Punjabi film featuring Diljit Dosanjh and Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, which premiered globally on June 27, 2025, excluding India. Diljit Dosanjh defended the move, citing financial losses faced by producers due to the ban on Pakistani artists in India.
Abir Gulaal’s global rollout highlights the ongoing challenges of cross-border collaborations in cinema amid political tensions.
