After Pahalgam terror attack, social media demands boycott of Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal in Indian theaters

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is making his Bollywood comeback with Aarti S. Bagdi's rom-com film, Abir Gulaal. It stars Vaani Kapoor as the female lead and is scheduled to be released in theaters on May 9. However, the recent Pahalgam terror attack led social media to call for a boycott of Abir Gulaal. They said that the film should not be released in Indian theatres.

Social media calls for a ban on Abir Gulaal

During the terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, 26 civilians were killed, mostly tourists, as per reports. Terrorists opened fire at tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. After this, social media called for a ban on Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal.

One fan on X wrote, "Abir Gulaal will not be allowed to release in any theatre in India." Another shared, "If released, the movie should be boycotted." A third fan said, "Still in favour of Pakistani actors in Indian cinemas? Are we still going to allow movies like Abir Gulaal to be made in India with Pakistani actors?"

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Abir Gulaal faces protests in Maharashtra

Soon after Abir Gulaal was announced with a teaser, Fawad Khan's film met with protests in Maharashtra. MNS spokesperson Ameya Khopkar told Dainik Bhaskar, "We only learned about this film’s release today when the makers announced it. But we are making it clear that we will not allow this film to release in Maharashtra because it features a Pakistani actor. Under no circumstances will we permit such films to be released in the state."

More about Abir Gulaal

Abir Gulaal follows the story of Abir (played by Fawad Khan) and Gulaal (played by Vaani Kapoor). They are a restaurant owner and a chef, respectively. They find love unexpectedly while dealing with a challenging life in London. The film shows their journey of healing and growth while exploring their love for each other. 

Meanwhile, during a recent Instagram live, Vaani Kapoor opened up about her working experience with Fawad. Calling him one of a kind, the actress also mentioned that Fawad has no ego and no hassle. On the other hand, speaking about Vaani, Fawad said, "It’s been an absolute pleasure. You (Vaani) are a very good person, a gem of a person.”

Meanwhile, directed by Aarti S Bagdi, Abir Gulaal is scheduled to hit theatres on May 9, 2025.