Shiv Sena and MNS Oppose Fawad Khan’s Comeback to Indian Cinema with Abir Gulaal

Ziya Khan 3 weeks agoLast Updated: April 3, 2025

Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood with the film Abir Gulaal has elicited strong reactions from political parties in Maharashtra, particularly the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Shiv Sena. The film, which also stars Vaani Kapoor, recently released its trailer, marking Khan’s comeback to the Indian film industry after nearly a decade. This return comes amid a ban on Pakistani artists in Indian films that has been in effect since 2016. Although the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition challenging the ban in 2023, tensions regarding the involvement of Pakistani artists in Bollywood persist.

In response to the trailer, MNS leader Ameya Khopkar voiced the party’s opposition to the film’s release in Maharashtra. “We only learned about this film’s release today when the makers announced it. However, we want to make it clear that we will not allow this film to release in Maharashtra because it features a Pakistani actor. Under no circumstances will we permit such films to be released in the state. We are currently gathering more information about the film and will soon issue a full statement,” Khopkar told Dainik Bhaskar. Similarly, Sanjay Nirupam, a leader from the Eknath Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, addressed the controversy, highlighting the prevailing sentiment towards Pakistani artists in India.

He stated to ETimes, “There is widespread resentment towards Pakistan in India. When a film from Pakistan is released, Indian audiences generally do not prefer to watch it. Even if a few people watch it out of curiosity, Pakistani artists have never achieved widespread success in India. If the central government has a policy regarding this, it should be enforced. The decision on whether Pakistani films should be allowed in India or if their artists should work here must be made by the government.”The controversy surrounding Fawad Khan’s return underscores the ongoing debate about cultural exchanges between India and Pakistan, with political parties and industry stakeholders expressing differing opinions. Meanwhile, Abir Gulaal, a romantic drama, is set to hit theaters on May 9, 2025. It remains to be seen whether these objections will affect the film’s release.