I&B Ministry Bars Pakistani Actor Fawad Khan’s ‘Abir Gulaal’ From Indian Theatres

New Delhi’s Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B) has refused theatrical clearance to Fawad Khan’s  ’Abir Gulaal’, insiders confirmed on Thursday.

The decision follows the 13 April terror strike at Baisaran, Pahalgam, that killed 26 tourists and injured dozens more.

Authorities have described the assault, carried out in the high‑altitude meadow accessible only on foot or horseback, as the region’s bloodiest since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

Officials say allowing a film front‑lined by a Pakistani star so soon after the tragedy would be ‘insensitive and untenable’.

Fawad Khan’s Abir Gulaal Scheduled For 9 May Premiere

Producers had planned to open  ’Abir Gulaal’ nationwide on 9 May.

On 1 April, they released a playful trailer brimming with flirtatious banter, promise of sweeping London vistas, and the fresh pairing of Pakistani heart‑throb Fawad Khan with Indian actress Vaani Kapoor.

Publicity material billed the movie as a breezy ‘rom‑com for summer’, hoping to tap both Indian metros and the South‑Asian diaspora abroad.

Production Timeline And Creative Team

Director Aarti S Bagdi began principal photography on 29 September last year, choosing London’s autumn palette as a backdrop for the love story.

The crew shot through October and November, wrapping interiors and exterior montages across iconic British landmarks.

Producers Vivek B  Agrawal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy bankrolled the project under their banner Indian Stories, touting it as a ‘people‑to‑people bridge’ between the two countries.

Fawad Khan’s Interrupted Bollywood Trajectory

Fawad Khan, one of Pakistan’s highest‑paid actors, crossed into Hindi cinema in 2014 with Shashanka Ghosh’s Khoobsurat, winning a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.

Two years later, he anchored Shakun Batra’s ensemble hit Kapoor & Sons and appeared in Karan Johar’s musical drama ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’. Political tensions halted further collaborations after 2016, making Abir Gulaal his first potential Bollywood outing in nearly a decade.

No Word On Conditional Clearance

The I&B Ministry has not specified whether the prohibition is permanent or subject to review.

Past precedents, such as ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ clearing after edits and a donation to an army fund, suggest filmmakers could still negotiate.

For now, though, the interdiction underscores how swiftly geopolitical flashpoints can upend cultural exchange between India and Pakistan.

Also Read: Pahalgam Terror Attack: Five Terrorists Identified; Includes Three Pakistanis And Two Kashmiris