By Sushil Kutty
‘Abir Gulaal’ was Indian actress Vaani Kapoor’s film till Pahalgam became a terrorist blockbuster. Paired with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, Vaani was looking forward to a block-buster release for ‘Abir Gulaal’, but it didn’t play out quite like she thought, indicating that there’s more to India-Pakistan ties than a romantic pairing of Indian and Pakistani actors.
‘Abir Gulaal’ is beyond the strong vibes shared by Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan. The Pakistani actor has been a saviour of Bollywood. That being said, Fawad Khan should be blamed for ‘Abir Gulaal’ disappearing from Vaani Kapoor’s Instagram account. Everything ‘Vaani’ scrubbed from Kapoor’s Instagram account
This, after India restricted all Pakistani actors’ Instagram accounts, blocked them amid the raging war talk after the Pahalgam terror attack in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. But can Vaani Kapoor exorcise the ghost of Fawad Ahmed from her conscience? ‘Abir Gulaal’ was scheduled to release on May 9. There is no way that date will be kept.
Vaani Kapoor has nobody else to blame except Fawad Khan. But for the Pakistani Fawad Khan, ‘Abir Gulaal’ would be ready to hit the screens on May 9. It is not Vaani Kapoor’s fault that Fawad Khan is Pakistani but it is Fawad Khan’s fault that he’s ‘Pakistani’. After ‘Pahalgam 2025’ there’s no way ‘Abir Gulaal’ would be released.
The Pahalgam terror attack backlash has caught everybody Pakistani in its whorl. Vaani Kapoor’s debut film is a victim of cross-border terrorism which Fawad Khan’s country specializes in and is continuously engaged in. The ‘Abir Gulaal’ project was in jeopardy right from when it was conceived. It faces not just a political backlash but also an industry backlash. Big sections of the Bollywood fraternity are against Pakistanis getting an Indian platform to excel.
The Indian government has blocked the Instagram accounts of all Pakistani actors. All content of Abir Gulaal—posters, teasers, photos with Fawad Khan— vanished from Vaani Kapoor’s profile. Did she do it herself, out of a deep sense of patriotism? Remember, for most Indian actors, being paired with a Pakistani actor is beyond romantic? There is talk Vaani Kapoor distanced herself from ‘Abir Gulaal’.
There is also talk that all content related to ‘Abir Gulaal’ was removed “automatically”, as if by a hidden hand! The truth is ‘Abir Gulaal’ producers deleted original ‘Abir Gulaal’ content after Pahalgam which prompted Instagram to automatically remove Abir Gulaal content from Vaani Kapoor’s profile as well. As it is, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees had called for a ban on Pakistani actors. ‘Abir Gulaal’ was in the crosshair of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.
Fawad Khan “condemned” the Pahalgam killings but kept Pakistan’s guilt hidden deep in his heart. There are unconfirmed reports that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may give Fawad Khan a clean chit and ‘Abir Gulaal’ may yet do its theatrical run. The Modi government has been unable to tie Pakistan to Pahalgam. Fawad Khan called Pahalgam a “heinous act.”
Other Pakistani artists whose Instagram accounts have been restricted in India include that of Mahira Khan, Atif Aslam and Hania Aamir.
Hania says she remains accessible thanks to her legion of Indian fans who have discovered ways to “get around” the blockade, a “roundabout way”. Hania is full of gratitude and admiration for her Indian fans. The good news for Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan is that Bollywood is not the Noida newsroom. The ban on the Instagram accounts of celebrated Pakistani actors won’t last till as long as Narendra Modi remains Prime Minister!
It is not just Hania Aamir’s fans who have found a roundabout way to beat the “ban”, Pakistani YouTubers, who were also blocked and banned, have opened new YouTube channels to air their views. Alleged ISI agents Arzoo Kazmi and Dr. Qamar Cheema are back on YouTube using “borrowed” channels to post their anti-India spiel. The ISI is not about to give-up. Besides, all Vaani Kapoor has to do is to shout and half of Pakistan will scramble to watch ‘Abir Gulaal’ if the film is released in Pakistan! (IPA Service)
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