Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actress Vaani Kapoor are in the romantic comedy Aabir Gulaal (previously called Abir Gulaal), which has been delayed for a long time. It is set to come out globally on August 29, 2025.
The movie was supposed to premiere on May 9, but it was postponed because of political issues after the Pahalgam attack on April 22. Now, it looks like it won’t be released in theatres in India and will focus on international viewers instead.
- Plot & Format: A romantic comedy starring Khan as Abir and Kapoor as Gulaal, set in London with some emotional twists.
- Initial Release Plan: It was supposed to come out on May 9, 2025, which would be Fawad Khan’s comeback to Bollywood after a lot of delays.
- Political Setback: The release was stopped because of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 and the following bans on Pakistani artists.
- New Release Strategy: Now, it’s set to launch internationally on August 29, with a new name, Aabir Gulaal, possibly following the same plan as Sardaar Ji 3, which didn’t release in India but did well abroad.
The romantic comedy was shot in London in late 2024, directed by Aarti S. Bagdi, who also wrote the screenplay. It was produced by Vivek Agrawal, Avantika Hari, Rakesh Sippy, and Firuzi Khan.
Fawad Khan’s comeback to Bollywood has been eagerly awaited because of his praised roles in Khoobsurat, Kapoor & Sons, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil before he took a break.
The sudden terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 caused a quick reaction: the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and other groups in the industry demanded a total ban on Pakistani artists in India, which affected the film’s original release schedule.
Since Indian options are no longer available, the filmmakers seem to have chosen to focus on international markets first, as seen with Sardaar Ji 3, which also didn’t show in India but ended up being a big hit abroad.
The upcoming worldwide release of Aabir Gulaal on August 29 marks Fawad Khan’s return to the global scene. If the film does well, it might open doors for more collaborations between countries, especially if it gets good box office numbers and positive reviews from critics around the world.
People in the industry will be paying attention to see if the film’s success abroad leads to discussions about making it easier for Pakistani artists to work in Indian movies.
Fawad Khan is a well-known actor from Pakistan, loved by many fans in South Asia and around the world. His latest roles in The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022) and Money Back Guarantee (2023) showed that he can still attract audiences in Pakistani movies. Abir Gulaal is likely to boost his popularity internationally, especially since he is working with a Bollywood actress and the film is being marketed globally.
My name is Farhad Dawar and I am graduate of the Institute of Media and Communication Studies Bahaddin Zakariya University Multan Pakistan. I’m passionate about journalism and media, and I believe in journalism of courage, uncovering the truth, and shaping the future.
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
- Farhad Dawarhttps://dawartimes.com/author/admin/
