Abir Gulaal: Fawad Khan, Vaani Kapoor’s romantic film mires itself in CONTROVERSY over its release in Maharashtra already; know what happened

The upcoming movie starring Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan, titled Abir Gulaal, has faced criticism shortly after its teaser was unveiled. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, has voiced strong opposition to the film’s screening in Maharashtra. Additionally, Ashoke Pandit, producer and president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, appears to be against the release of this film.

During an interview with Dainik Bhaskar, MNS spokesperson Ameya Khopkar shared that he learned about the movie’s premiere following its announcement. Moreover, he emphasized that they plan to prevent the movie from being released in the state because it includes a Pakistani actor.

In no case will we allow those movies to be screened within the state. We’re currently collecting details regarding the film and plan to release a comprehensive explanation shortly.

Besides that, Sanjay Nirupam, a member of the Shiv Sena party, additionally voiced his opinion on the issue, asserting that there exists a significant level of antipathy towards Pakistan within India.

As reported by News 18, he stated that Indian viewers typically do not show a strong interest in watching Pakistani movies. Even when some individuals watch them due to curiosity, they rarely gain nationwide popularity in India.

He advocated for Pakistani artists to focus on building up their own film industry, rather than pursuing opportunities within India. He strongly supported the implementation of the policies set forth by the federal government. Furthermore, he proposed that it would be appropriate for the government to determine whether Pakistani films should be shown in the country and if Pakistani artists should be permitted to work here.

Conversely, Ashoke Pandit, a well-known producer, spoke with India Today and shared that he’s been informed that Abir Gulaal is not a production supported by an Indian film studio. He clarified that there’s no legal restriction on the movie’s release, but producer groups have expressed opposition to collaborating with Pakistani artists in Indian cinema following the Pulwama attack.

It is not advisable for artists from Pakistan to collaborate with us. We request the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to investigate this issue. Unfortunately, we cannot allow the film to be screened in India as it currently stands. Previously, we have taken a stance against producers who work with individuals from Pakistan. Moreover, he stated that he was not aware of the film’s existence. If there are any Indian filmmakers involved, they should expect their collaborators to refrain from working with them again.

Abir Gulaal is set to release on May 9, 2025. 

Read More

2025-04-01 20:22