Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor’s much-awaited movie, Abir Gulaal, is back in the spotlight as the makers have decided to release it in theatres—finally! Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, the film was originally set to hit screens in May 2025. But escalating tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack forced the release to be put on hold.
Now, according to the latest reports, the makers are gearing up to launch Abir Gulaal worldwide. The strategy seems to mirror what happened with Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaarji 3, which also skipped India but released globally with success.
BizAsia reports that Abir Gulaal is slated for a global release on August 29, but it won’t be released in Indian theatres due to ongoing diplomatic strains between the two nations. Back in June, Sardaarji 3 made headlines when it didn’t release in India because Pakistani actress Hania Aamir played a key role. The move paid off as the film did well internationally. However, Diljit Dosanjh faced heavy criticism for working with a Pakistani star. He later clarified that the decision was made by the producers and that filming happened when India-Pakistan relations were more stable.
Abir Gulaal was set to mark Fawad Khan’s Bollywood return after nine long years—he last appeared in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. But following the URI terror attacks, a complete ban was placed on Pakistani artists working in India, blocking many projects. In 2023, the Bombay High Court rejected a plea calling for a total ban on Pakistani artists, opening the door for Fawad’s Bollywood comeback with Abir Gulaal. Unfortunately, after the Pahalgam attack, the ban was reinstated, even leading to social media accounts of some Pakistani stars being blocked in India.
Despite all these hurdles, fans can finally look forward to watching Abir Gulaal on the big screen globally. For more updates and the latest from the world of entertainment, keep following Taza Updates
