<p><em>Abir Gulal</em>, an upcoming romantic film starring Vaani Kapoor, is facing backlash and boycott calls after the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Srinagar, on Tuesday.</p><p>With 27 lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack, public anger is refusing to let down and the movie is now being targeted as it stars Fawad Khan. <em>Abir Gulaal </em>marks Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s comeback to Indian screens after nearly nine years. Post the terror attack, netizens are raising questions about the Indian film industry's decision to work with Pakistani artists despite ongoing tensions.</p><p>There are several calls from the users to boycott the movie, and the backlash is getting severe, with many demanding that the film be pulled from release schedules.</p>.<p>Set to hit screens on May 9, <em>Abir Gulaal</em> is a romantic drama and is directed by Aarti S Bagdi. The film is about a cross-border love story and has remained in the headlines from the start, largely due to the inclusion of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan amidst strained India-Pakistan relations.</p><p>Post the Pahalgam attack, the hate towards the movie has intensified, with netizens questioning the industry’s ethical choices. A user wrote, "Why are Pakistani artists still being welcomed in Indian cinema while our soldiers are being martyred at the borders and innocent lives are being lost?" </p><p>"Are we still going to allow movies like Abir Gulaal to be made?" another user asked on X.</p><p>A similar controversy erupted in 2016 when Karan Johar’s <em>Ae Dil Hai Mushkil</em>, which also starred Fawad Khan, faced heat following the Uri terror attack. Such was the intensity of the backlash that it resulted in an informal ban on Pakistani artists within the Indian entertainment industry.</p><p>Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) strongly opposed the film's release in Maharashtra. However, the makers of <em>Abir Gulaal</em> are moving ahead with the originally planned release date and have remained silent on the growing criticism.</p>
<p><em>Abir Gulal</em>, an upcoming romantic film starring Vaani Kapoor, is facing backlash and boycott calls after the deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Srinagar, on Tuesday.</p><p>With 27 lives lost in the Pahalgam terror attack, public anger is refusing to let down and the movie is now being targeted as it stars Fawad Khan. <em>Abir Gulaal </em>marks Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s comeback to Indian screens after nearly nine years. Post the terror attack, netizens are raising questions about the Indian film industry's decision to work with Pakistani artists despite ongoing tensions.</p><p>There are several calls from the users to boycott the movie, and the backlash is getting severe, with many demanding that the film be pulled from release schedules.</p>.<p>Set to hit screens on May 9, <em>Abir Gulaal</em> is a romantic drama and is directed by Aarti S Bagdi. The film is about a cross-border love story and has remained in the headlines from the start, largely due to the inclusion of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan amidst strained India-Pakistan relations.</p><p>Post the Pahalgam attack, the hate towards the movie has intensified, with netizens questioning the industry’s ethical choices. A user wrote, "Why are Pakistani artists still being welcomed in Indian cinema while our soldiers are being martyred at the borders and innocent lives are being lost?" </p><p>"Are we still going to allow movies like Abir Gulaal to be made?" another user asked on X.</p><p>A similar controversy erupted in 2016 when Karan Johar’s <em>Ae Dil Hai Mushkil</em>, which also starred Fawad Khan, faced heat following the Uri terror attack. Such was the intensity of the backlash that it resulted in an informal ban on Pakistani artists within the Indian entertainment industry.</p><p>Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) strongly opposed the film's release in Maharashtra. However, the makers of <em>Abir Gulaal</em> are moving ahead with the originally planned release date and have remained silent on the growing criticism.</p>
