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Superstar Fawad Khan and Indian actor Vaani Kapoor’s upcoming film, Abir Gulaal, is under the scanner ahead of its release in India.

The teaser, which debuted yesterday, generated significant buzz, but the film is drawing opposition from political parties and film associations, reigniting the long-standing debate over Pakistani artists working in India.

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has objected to the film’s release in Maharashtra. MNS spokesperson Ameya Khopkar said his party would not allow the film to be screened in the state due to a Pakistani actor’s involvement.

“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 be released in Maharashtra because it features a Pakistani actor. Under no circumstances will we permit such films to be released in the state. We are gathering more information about the film and will soon issue a full statement,” he was quoted by Dainak Bhaskar as saying.

In the same report, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam claimed that Pakistani artists are not in demand in India.

“When a film is released from Pakistan, Indian people do not like to watch it. It is a different thing to watch one or two films for a minute, but the films of Pakistani artists do not become very popular among the Indian audience. That is why Pakistani stars have never been able to succeed in India. I would advise Pakistanis that instead of exploring the Indian market, it is better to work in their own country.”

Contrary to Nirupam’s claims, Khan enjoys heartthrob status in India, having played the lead in Bollywood hits Khoobsurat (2014) and Kapoor & Sons (2016).

Despite his popularity, the Indian release of his film, The Legend of Maula Jatt, was paused after a right-wing fringe group objected to it.

Now, in addition to political resistance, Abir Gulaal is also facing opposition from film bodies. Ashoke Pandit, producer and president of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association, told India Today that industry federations have maintained a non-cooperation stance against Pakistani artists since the 2019 Pulwama attack.

“This happened after the Pulwama attack when the federation took a strong stand. We do not encourage artists from Pakistan to work here. We would appeal to the CBFC to look into the matter. We cannot have the film released in India. We have also earlier issued a non-cooperation against producers who work with people from Pakistan. We were not even informed about this film, and if there are Indian makers involved, none of our technicians will work with them again,” he said.

BN Tiwari, President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, acknowledged that he was unaware of the film but confirmed that a meeting with the production team would be scheduled before taking a stance.

Despite these objections, there is no official government ban on Pakistani artists working in India. In 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking a complete ban on Pakistani artists. However, the lack of a clear policy continues to create confusion.

Amid this controversy, Abir Gulaal remains scheduled for release on May 9. However, whether it will see a smooth run in Indian theatres remains uncertain as political and industry opposition continues to mount.