Fawad Khan's 'Abir Gulaal' songs removed after Pahalgam terror attack
Abir Gulaal
, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, has encountered major setbacks following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, has sparked outrage across the country, leading to widespread calls for a boycott of the film.
In the wake of this growing controversy, promotional content for
Abir Gulaal
has started to vanish from public view. Two songs from the film,
Khudaya Ishq
and
Angreji Rangrasiya
, which were previously released, have been removed from YouTube India. Both songs were originally available on the official YouTube channels of the production company, A Richer Lens Entertainment, as well as Saregama, which holds the music rights. However, they are no longer accessible on these platforms.
Reported
India Today.
Another track,
Tain Tain
, was set to be released on Wednesday, but it too has been delayed, with no official explanation from the film's team.
The controversy surrounding the film deepened after the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), led by Raj Thackeray, opposed its release. The party cited the tense relations between India and Pakistan, arguing that featuring a Pakistani actor in a Bollywood film was inappropriate at such a sensitive time. This sentiment has been echoed by many social media users, who have voiced strong objections to the collaboration between Indian and Pakistani artists in the aftermath of the terror attack.
As a result, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has now confirmed that
Abir Gulaal
will not be released in India. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) also reiterated its stand against working with Pakistani artists, reinforcing the call for a ban on such collaborations.
Directed by Aarti S Bagdi,
Abir Gulaal
was initially scheduled for release on May 9. The film also stars Lisa Haydon, Riddhi Dogra, Farida Jalal, Soni Razdan, Parmeet Sethi, and Rahul Vohra in key roles.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
28 minutes ago
- Mint
Badshahs team issues clarification on Dallas event after FWICE letter
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 18 (ANI): Rapper Badshah's team has issued a clarification following concerns raised by FWICE over his upcoming show in Dallas being allegedly sponsored by a Pakistani company Recently, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) wrote an official letter to Badshah, seeking clarification regarding the Dallas leg of Badshah's much-anticipated Unfinished USA Tour 2025, scheduled for September. "Dear Mr. Badshah, It has come to our attention that you are scheduled to perform in an upcoming event Badshah Un-Finished Tour at the Curtis Culwell Centre in Dallas, USA, on the 19th of Sept 2025 which is reportedly being sponsored by 3Sixty Shows, a company owned and operated by Pakistani nationals," the letter read. Now, on Monday, Badshah's management issued a statement firmly rejecting any such association. "Badshah and his management team unequivocally confirm that the Unfinished USA Tour 2025 is being conducted through a U.S.-based event agency operating under fully transparent contractual terms. The tour is exclusively managed by Manish Sood of Intense Entertainment, who acts as the sole promoter and point of contact, handling all operational aspects including venue bookings, sponsorships, accommodations, and logistics. Badshah remains steadfast in his mission to use music as a bridge for cultural exchange and unity, ensuring his work remains entirely independent of geopolitical influences." Also, Badshah's legal team issued a detailed clarification to FWICE on August 16, 2025. "The artist is not privy to nor involved in any financial arrangements beyond those explicitly outlined in his performance contract. In a commitment to transparency, Badshah's legal counsel has provided comprehensive clarification to FWICE on 16th August 2025, reaffirming his professional integrity and allowing him to dedicate his full attention to his artistic endeavors. This statement underscores Badshah's dedication to maintaining ethical standards while continuing to inspire global audiences through his music," the statement read. Intense Entertainment, the tour promoter, also addressed the issue, confirming the Dallas venue was secured under their company's name. They said, "To ensure seamless execution, we have enlisted the support of 3Sixty Shows--a U.S.-based event management firm owned and led by President and CEO Chloe Jones--to assist with marketing and on-ground logistics. All venue bookings, hotel reservations, flight arrangements, and ancillary logistics for the tour have been coordinated directly through Intense Entertainment, in strict compliance with local regulations and industry best practices." "We remain fully committed to transparency and cooperation with FWICE to address any concerns and ensure the integrity of our events," the promoters added. Badshah is scheduled to perform in Dallas, USA on September 19. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Badshah responds to FWICE's claim of Pakistani company sponsoring upcoming Dallas concert
Recently, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) wrote a letter to Badshah seeking clarification about the Dallas leg of his Unfinished Tour and alleging that a Pakistani company was sponsoring it. On Monday, Badshah responded to these claims, issuing a clarification about the concert that is to be held on 19 September. Badshah received a letter from FWICE over allegedly having associations with a Pakistani company for his tour. Badshah responds to FWICE claims In a statement to the press, Badshah and his team confirmed that the Unfinished Tour is being conducted through a US-based event agency rather than a Pakistani one. A portion of their statement reads: 'The tour is exclusively managed by Manish Sood of Intense Entertainment, who acts as the sole promoter and point of contact, handling all operational aspects, including venue bookings, sponsorships, accommodations, and logistics. Badshah remains steadfast in his mission to use music as a bridge for cultural exchange and unity, ensuring his work remains entirely independent of geopolitical influences.' They also claimed that Badshah is 'not privy' nor 'involved' in any financial transactions beyond those outlined in his performance contract. 'In a commitment to transparency, Badshah's legal counsel has provided comprehensive clarification to FWICE on 16th August 2025, reaffirming his professional integrity and allowing him to dedicate his full attention to his artistic endeavours,' they wrote. The promoter, Intense Entertainment, also took cognisance of FWICE's inquiry and clarified that 3Sixty Tour is a US-based company. They said in a statement, 'To ensure seamless execution, we have enlisted the support of 3Sixty Shows—a U.S.-based event management firm owned and led by President and CEO Chloe Jones—to assist with marketing and on-ground logistics.' They also claimed that the event company has worked with Hrithik Roshan, Aghori Muzik, Purva Mantri and Abhijeet Bhattacharya. 'All venue bookings, hotel reservations, flight arrangements and ancillary logistics for the tour have been coordinated directly through Intense Entertainment, in strict compliance with local regulations and industry best practices. We remain fully committed to transparency and cooperation with FWICE to address any concerns and ensure the integrity of our events,' they added. What happened According to news agency ANI, on 13 August, the FWICE wrote a letter to Badshah seeking clarification on his association with 3Sixty Shows, which they allege is a Pakistani company. FWICE said that Badshah's collaboration with a Pakistani company goes against national sentiment and directives issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. FWICE also planned to escalate the matter in Delhi on 18 August. Before that, on 2 August, Kartik Aaryan also received a letter from them about Azadi Utsav, the Indian Independence Day event scheduled to be held in the US on 15 August. One of the sponsors for the event was a business owned by a Pakistani-origin businessman named Shaukat Maredia called Aga's Restaurant and Catering. Karthik, however, claimed to have no association with the event, according to PTI.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Can Asim Munir's plan for ‘rare earth treasure' save sinking Pakistan?
Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has divulged his plan for the country's underexploited minerals that could change its fortunes. In a recent conversation, he reportedly spoke of the nation's 'rare earth treasure' that will make Pakistan one of the 'most prosperous societies'. Here's how Pakistan houses vast reserves of minerals such as lithium, copper, and rare earth elements (REEs). However, most of it remains untapped. The cash-strapped nation is now looking to utilise its underexploited minerals to help its crisis-ridden economy. Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has a plan for the country's reserves. This comes as the United States shows an interest in the South Asian nation's rare earth minerals and its 'massive oil reserves'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Let's take a closer look. Munir's plan Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has unveiled a plan to change the country's fortunes through its 'rare earth treasure'. In an interaction between Munir and Pakistani writer Suhail Warraich, published by Jang media, the Army chief specifically brought up the Reko Diq mining project in the conflict-ridden Balochistan province. He predicted that Pakistan could mint at least $2 billion annually from next year, with profits likely to increase year after year. 'Pakistan has a rare earth treasure; with this treasure, Pakistan's debt will also be reduced, and Pakistan will soon be counted among the most prosperous societies,' Munir was quoted as saying. The Reko Diq mine is one of the world's largest underdeveloped copper and gold deposits. Its presence in insurgency-hit Balochistan, however, adds a challenge for the mining project. Baloch leaders already accuse Islamabad of draining the region's national resources. The Reko Diq mining project is jointly owned by the governments of Pakistan and Balochistan, as well as Canada-headquartered Barrick Gold. The company is seeking funding for the project from international lenders. US interest in Pakistan's minerals Munir's reported remarks come amid growing interest in Pakistan's resources by the US under President Donald Trump. As per reports, Washington and Islamabad have discussed the extraction of rare earth elements. This comes as the US has ramped up efforts to seek alternatives to China, which currently dominates global rare earth supply chains. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Rare earths are 17 metallic elements, consisting of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides. While these materials are found throughout the Earth's crust, extracting and processing them is costly and environmentally damaging. From the automotive industry to defence, permanent magnets made with rare earth elements (REEs) are essential across sectors. The US military is heavily reliant on rare earths from China. Washington now wants to reduce this dependence on Beijing. Earlier this month, the Washington Post reported that Trump's outreach to Islamabad is 'less about oil than minerals.' In recent months, the US and Pakistan's ties have improved. Munir has visited the US twice in the past few months for high-level engagements. Pakistan has also nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, which the American president publicly covets. On Pakistan's Independence Day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was keen to 'explore new areas of economic cooperation, including critical minerals and hydrocarbons.' His statement came after the announcement of a new trade agreement between the two countries to lower tariffs and attract US investment in Balochistan's mining projects. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This shift comes amid a strain in relations between India and the US. Trump has announced 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports, of which a 25 per cent levy is the 'penalty' for buying Russian oil. On the other hand, Pakistan has received its first-ever crude shipment from the US under a new trade deal. In a recent post on Truth Social, the US president announced, 'Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive Oil Reserves.' 'We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership. Who knows, maybe they'll be selling oil to India some day!' Trump added. The China factor Even as Pakistan gets closer to the US, it cannot ignore the China factor. Beijing has invested billions in Pakistan through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Islamabad has to maintain a balancing act: welcome the US support without isolating its all-weather ally, China. Munir has reportedly hinted at his strategy of dealing with the two countries. 'We will not sacrifice one friend for the other,' he was quoted as saying by Jang media. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
