Amit Trivedi Reacts To Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal Getting Stalled: ‘India First'

News18

24-05-2025

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Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor's film Abir Gulaal was postponed indefinitely due to the Pahalgam attack and India-Pakistan tensions.
Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's upcoming Bollywood film Abir Gulaal, also starring Vaani Kapoor, will not see a theatrical release in India. According to a source linked to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the decision follows the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. In light of the incident, authorities opted to withhold the film's release.
Composer Amit Trivedi, who worked on the film's soundtrack, doesn't regret the film getting stalled. 'The decision [to not release the film] was taken keeping India first and I am in support of it completely," the musician tells Hindustan Times.
As a composer who dedicates considerable time and creative energy to crafting a film's soundtrack, how does it feel when the project doesn't get released? 'Yes, it hurts when a project faces trouble. Not just this film, but anything I work on with all the honesty and hard work becomes a part of me. So, a project getting stalled is bound to disappoint you. We make music for the audience and as artistes, that's all you want (your music to reach the fans). But in this case, the scenario was very different. My country comes first, above everything else," says Amit.
Abir Gulaal was set to mark Fawad Khan's much-anticipated return to Bollywood after nearly a decade. The Pakistani actor, widely celebrated by Indian audiences, previously starred in three Hindi films — Khoobsurat (2014), Kapoor & Sons (2016), and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).
However, the industry dynamic changed significantly after the 2016 Uri terror attack. In its aftermath, associations such as the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPPA) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) imposed bans on Pakistani artists working in Indian films.
While Fawad Khan's comeback with Abir Gulaal was already facing opposition from a few, the protests intensified after the terror attack in Pahalgam when Lashkar-linked terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists. The incident killed 27 people, and the Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar offshoot, took responsibility for the attack.
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