The cross-border Bollywood return of Pakistani star Fawad Khan with Abir Gulal is drawing both praise and protest.
After nearly a decade away from Bollywood, Fawad Khan is making a high-profile return with Abirr Gulal, co-starring Indian actress Vaani Kapoor. The film recently held its first major promotional event at Dubai’s Global Village, drawing huge crowds and enthusiastic support from the overseas Pakistani community.
The film’s complete music album was launched ahead of the event, and its first romantic track Khudaya Ishq—featuring Fawad and Vaani—has already gained traction online. During the event, Vaani Kapoor praised Fawad Khan as her favorite co-star, describing him as charming, courteous, and “made for the big screen.”
Despite the celebratory tone in Dubai, the film’s release in India is under threat. Right-wing political parties MNS and Shiv Sena have openly opposed Abeer Gulal, demanding that it not be released in Maharashtra due to Fawad Khan’s Pakistani origin. MNS leader Ameya Khopkar stated, “We won’t allow the release of this film in Maharashtra.” Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Nirupam echoed the sentiment, arguing that Pakistani artists do not enjoy support from Indian audiences.
Meanwhile, media reports suggest that Fawad Khan was paid between INR 5 to 10 crore for his role, highlighting the significance of his return to the Indian film industry.
As anticipation builds and controversy brews, Abeer Gulal stands at the center of a cultural and political divide—making it one of the most talked-about South Asian film projects of the year.