Superstar Fawad Khan’s Bollywood film Abir Gulaal is set to release in Pakistan on 12 September 2025. The movie, which faced significant delays and a ban following the Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, will be released worldwide except in India.
According to recent reports, Abir Gulaal, starring Fawad Khan alongside Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor, has received clearance from the Government of Pakistan and has been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC).
Originally scheduled for release on 9 May 2025, the film was banned in India following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.
The situation escalated further when the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), a leading organization representing over 500,000 film and television professionals, reiterated its long-standing ban on Pakistani artists, singers, and technicians working in Indian productions.
Prior to the controversy, Abir Gulaal had generated substantial buzz, with promotional events including a successful music launch at Dubai’s Global Village on 19 April that received an overwhelming response from fans and media.
However, just days after the Pahalgam attack, audio company Saregama pulled the film’s tracks from circulation, effectively pausing all promotional activities.
In the light of these developments, the producers have shifted to what industry analysts describe as an “overseas-first” distribution strategy, a model recently exemplified by the Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3.
Despite being denied a theatrical release in India, the Diljit Dosanjh-led production, co-starring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, achieved remarkable success internationally, grossing ₹70.10 crore and setting a new benchmark as the highest-earning Indian Punjabi film in overseas markets.
