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Bollywood actor Sunny Deol has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding the upcoming release of Abir Gulaal, marking Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan’s much-anticipated return to Indian cinema.

With tensions reigniting over cross-border artistic collaborations, Deol offered a grounded take in a recent interview with HT City.

Known for fiery, patriotic roles in films like Border and Gadar, Deol was asked whether he supported the presence of Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan in Bollywood. He responded, “See, I wouldn’t like to go on to the political side because that’s where things start getting messy.”

Deol reiterated that he’s an artist first and said, “We are actors, we work for everyone all over the world. Even if somebody is watching on Mars or anywhere, we are for everyone. So, aisi koi baat nahi hain [it’s nothing like that]. The way the world has become, we should stay global and let there be more countries; that’s the way it should be.”

The actor’s statement comes in the wake of renewed opposition by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), as the party expressed strong disapproval of Abir Gulaal’s release in Maharashtra, citing Khan’s involvement as the core issue.

Additionally, the Indian Film and TV Directors’ Association chief Ashoke Pandit threatened “protests” against Khan’s return.

Khan, who first won hearts in Bollywood with Khoobsurat (2014) and later in Kapoor & Sons (2016), stepped away from Indian films after an unofficial industry-wide ban was imposed on Pakistani artists in 2016. However, in 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking a formal ban, stating that art should not be politicised.

Directed by Aarti S Bagdi, Abir Gulaal is described as “a heartwarming tale from the picturesque streets of London,” promising audiences a romantic story brimming with laughter, emotional depth, and the onscreen chemistry of Khan and co-star Vaani Kapoor.

The film is scheduled to hit Indian theatres on May 9.

While Abir Gulaal may be walking into politically charged waters, Khan’s fans are eagerly waiting for his return to Indian cinema.