Did Vaani Kapoor delete Abir Gulaal posts from Instagram?
Listen to article
Indian actress Vaani Kapoor's promotional posts for the upcoming film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, have disappeared from her Instagram account, amid heightened political tensions following an attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The romantic drama, directed by Aarti S Bagdi and produced by Vivek Agrawal, was scheduled for release on May 9.
But after the 26-person death toll from the Pahalgam attack on April 30, political and industry backlash has thrown the project's future into doubt.
Social media users were quick to notice that all content related to Abir Gulaal—including posters, teasers, and Vaani Kapoor's photos with Fawad Khan—had vanished from her profile.
The deletions sparked speculation that Vaani Kapoor had intentionally distanced herself from the film.
However, a report by NDTV clarified that the posts were not removed by the actress herself. Instead, the content was originally published as part of Instagram collaborations.
When the production team deleted the original posts from their account, Instagram's system automatically removed the collaborative content from Vaani Kapoor's profile as well.
Just days earlier, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) renewed its demand for a ban on Pakistani actors in Indian media, a stance it had previously taken after the Pulwama attack in 2019.
Abir Gulaal had already attracted opposition from right-wing political parties, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
The group's spokesperson, Ameya Khopkar, said the party would not allow any film featuring a Pakistani artist to be released in Maharashtra.
In the wake of the attack, Indian media outlets have reported that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is reviewing the film's release. Some sources have suggested the government may block its theatrical run altogether.
Fawad Khan, who had condemned the Pahalgam attack on Instagram as a 'heinous act,' is now among several Pakistani celebrities whose accounts are restricted in India.
Users attempting to access Fawad Khan's Instagram profile from India now see a message that reads: 'Account not available in India. This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.'
Other artists, including Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam and Hania Aamir, are also affected by similar platform restrictions.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
38 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Govt reaffirms energy reform commitment
Listen to article Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to a resilient and sustainable energy future during his keynote address at the Ministerial Plenary session titled 'Global Cooperation for a Resilient and Sustainable Energy Future' at the 30th Baku Energy Forum. According to a statement released on Tuesday, in his speech, Malik congratulated Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and pledged Pakistan's full cooperation with the forum's transition agenda, which aims to shift from a fossil fuel-driven framework to a balanced energy mix. He emphasised Pakistan's strategic realignment under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's leadership towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and coherent energy paradigm. Highlighting Pakistan's ongoing industrialisation, Malik noted that the country's rising energy demand must be met by integrating renewable energy sources and technology. To support this, he announced the revival of the Cabinet Committee on Energy, chaired by the prime minister, to enhance coordination between the Petroleum and Power Divisions and ensure cohesive policy evolution. The minister also detailed Pakistan's efforts to expand its gas infrastructure by encouraging local exploration, acknowledging the assistance of Azerbaijan and other partner countries in developing indigenous gas resources. He said conservation measures and reform initiatives are underway to dismantle inefficiencies and ensure long-term sustainability of the gas sector. "Despite economic challenges, Pakistan is committed to making the gas sector sustainable by dismantling inefficiencies and implementing reforms," Malik stated. "Reform is the cornerstone of the prime minister's vision for a resilient energy future." Attendees at the plenary included Azerbaijan's Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov, the Turkish Deputy Minister of Energy, and Director of Energy at the European Commission Cristina Lobillo. Separately in Islamabad, Malik held a bilateral meeting with Rovshan Najaf, President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR), to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries. The discussion focused on deepening bilateral ties, potential joint ventures, and attracting investment in Pakistan's oil and gas sector. Malik reiterated Pakistan's intent to strengthen partnerships with leading global energy firms and stressed the government's commitment to creating an investor-friendly climate. Najaf praised Pakistan's progress in the energy sector and reaffirmed SOCAR's interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistani stakeholders.
Express Tribune
38 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Aus confirm Pakistan tour in 2026
Cricket Australia (CA) is gearing up for a white-ball series tour to Pakistan, scheduled for early next year, signaling a positive step towards strengthening cricketing ties between the two nations. During an online press conference, CA CEO Todd Greenberg conveyed his positive outlook on the upcoming tour, emphasising the significance of the series against Pakistan and the ongoing collaboration between the two cricket boards. "I believe it will be another good tour of Pakistan. The series against Pakistan is an important part of our schedule. There has been good communication between Pakistan and Australia regarding both red-ball and white-ball series," Greenberg said. "We need to look for more opportunities for series, which we will definitely do," he added. Looking back on the 2022 tour, Greenberg expressed enthusiasm about future matches in Pakistan. "We would like to play a series in Pakistan. In 2022, we toured Pakistan after a long gap, and the tour was very successful. The Australian team received a warm welcome. It would be great if such series continue to happen." Greenberg emphasised the league's commitment to bringing in talent from Pakistan, recognising the popularity of Pakistani players among fans, and explained the mutual benefits of such participation. "There is no doubt that Pakistani players are very popular within the community. Our effort is to attract players from all over the world for the BBL," he said. "If leading Pakistani players come, they will definitely enjoy it here. The league will benefit greatly from these top players for their teams and franchises," he added. Regarding player participation, Greenberg confirmed, "I hope we will definitely attract some players for the next edition of the BBL." It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan last toured Australia in November 2024 for a white-ball series. Under Mohammad Rizwan's captaincy, the Men in Green secured a historic 2-1 victory in the ODI series - their first series win in Australia since 2002. However, Australia bounced back strongly, winning the subsequent T20I series 3-0. For the unversed, according to the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 202527, Australia are expected to tour Pakistan for a white-ball series featuring three ODIs and three T20Is in FebruaryMarch. White-ball camp The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has summoned 22 top white-ball performers for a camp, including the senior trio of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Shah Afridi on Monday. According to the details, the shortlisted 22 players will report for the camp here in three groups, scheduled to be held on June 3, 4 and 5 respectively. During the camp, the PCB will inform the players about the future course of action, while their fitness and respective performances will also be analysed. Sources further suggested that senior players will participate in all three training sessions, which will also feature the top performers of the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10. Furthermore, Pakistan's white-ball head coach Mike Hesson will meet with top performers and will update them regarding the future course of action. Players called up for training camp: Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shahid Aziz, Abbas Afridi, Salman Mirza, Mir Hamza, Abdullah Shafique, Khawaja Nafay, Haider Ali, Ahmed Daniyal, Mehran Mumtaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Aamir Jamal, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ali Raza and Tayyab Tahir. For the unversed, Pakistan's white-ball entered a new era under the leadership of former New Zealand head coach Hesson. The 50-year-old had an ideal start to his tenure as the green shirts registered a 3-0 T20I series whitewash against Bangladesh, which also marked their first series triumph at home since December 2021. Following the drought-ending series victory over Bangladesh, Pakistan are scheduled for a brief break before touring back to Bangladesh next month for a potential three-match T20I series.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Express Tribune
Offset deactivates social media after Cardi B and Stefon Diggs go public
Atlanta rapper Offset has deactivated both his X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram accounts following a public meltdown linked to his ongoing divorce from Cardi B and her newly surfaced relationship with NFL player Stefon Diggs. Over the weekend, Cardi B and New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs were seen partying on a yacht, prompting viral speculation about their romantic involvement. Diggs' absence from the team's organized activities — though not mandatory — reportedly raised concerns within the Patriots camp. Offset appeared to take issue with the attention the couple received, posting 'Good roll out n PR' on X before deleting his account. He also posted a series of now-deleted tweets, including one that read, 'Now when somebody die for playing with my son then call me the crash out.' The post referenced a photo showing Offset and Cardi's son Wave sporting a hairstyle similar to Diggs', sparking online trolling. The way Offset is deactivating all his social media and sliding down the wall is so satisfying 😂😂 he got ya bm he won 🙂↔️ — CARDIA (@CCardib2) June 3, 2025 Offset and Cardi B are currently entangled in a contentious divorce. Offset has requested spousal support, which Cardi responded to harshly during a live X Spaces session, saying she hoped he would 'die slow.' She further claimed his cheating and gaslighting during her pregnancy had a severe emotional toll, leading to health concerns for their third child. The former couple were married for six years and share three children. Their split continues to dominate headlines, fueled by both personal and public fallout.
