Islamabad, Apr 2, 2025: Fawad Khan’s eagerly awaited return to Bollywood with the film Abir Gulaal has quickly sparked strong objections from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), just hours after the release of its teaser.
The political party has raised concerns over the film’s premiere in Maharashtra, pointing to the participation of a Pakistani actor as the primary issue.
MNS representative Ameya Khopkar made it clear that the party is “strongly opposed” to the film being shown in Maharashtra due to Fawad Khan’s involvement.
Shiv Sena figure Sanjay Nirupam also expressed his disapproval of the actor’s return to the Indian film industry, arguing that Indian audiences are unlikely to embrace films featuring Pakistani talent.
“There is a significant amount of animosity towards Pakistan in India. Films from Pakistan are not welcomed by Indian viewers.
Even if a few individuals watch out of curiosity, Pakistani actors have never achieved lasting popularity in India,” said Nirupam.
He further stressed that the government should apply those regulations consistently if they restrict Pakistani films and talent in India.
After the 2019 Pulwama incident, multiple film producer associations have raised concerns about the inclusion of Pakistani performers in Indian cinema.
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“If the central government has a policy in place, it should be executed. The decision on whether Pakistani films and artists should be permitted in India should be a matter for the government to decide,” Nirupam continued.
The president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association clarified that while they do not officially ban Pakistani actors, they generally discourage them from participating in Indian projects.
Fawad Khan’s Bollywood comeback
The Abir Gulaal teaser, which stars Fawad Khan alongside Vaani Kapoor, features a romantic moment where Khan serenades Kapoor inside a car on a rainy evening in London.
Aarti S. Bagdi directed this romantic drama, which began filming in the UK on September 29, 2024, and is set to hit theaters on May 9, 2025.
Although, Fawad Khan, who became a household name in Pakistan, made his Bollywood debut with Khoobsurat, where he starred opposite Sonam Kapoor under the direction of Shashanka Ghosh.
However, His comeback to Bollywood has reignited discussions about the complexities of cross-border artistic collaboration.
