Fawad Khan’s Bollywood comeback 'Abir Gulaal' faces boycott calls amid Pahalgam attack

Following Tuesday’s deadly attack on a tourist spot in the Pahalgam area of Indian-administered Kashmir, several Indian film bodies and social media users have begun demanding a boycott of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s upcoming Bollywood film Abir Gulaal.

The attack, which claimed 26 lives, has stirred fresh tensions, with hardline elements using the incident to renew calls against Pakistani artists working in India.

Despite Pakistan officially rejecting Indian media's insinuations of cross-border involvement, nationalist voices are calling for a ban on Abir Gulaal and the exclusion of all Pakistani actors from Indian cinema.

Abir Gulaal, co-starring Indian actress Vaani Kapoor, marks Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood after nearly a decade. The actor last appeared in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), which also faced backlash following the Uri attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

Read more: Kashmiri Muslims sheltered Indian tourists during Pahalgam attack, say survivors

That incident had triggered a cultural freeze between the two countries, halting collaborations and the airing of each other’s content.

Now, with the release of Abir Gulaal set for May 9, the film’s promotional campaign is in full swing—though all events are being held outside India due to prior objections from Hindu extremist groups, even before the Pahalgam attack.

So far, the film’s production team has not indicated any plans to postpone the release. However, the growing outcry and rising tensions have cast uncertainty over its reception in India.