After Sardaar Ji 3, Vaani Kapoor-Fawad Khan`s Abir Gulaal skips India release

Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor’s Abir Gulaal had hit a roadblock post the atrocious Pahalgam terror attacks. The film could not see the light of day as Pakistani artists were banned in India. However, it looks like the makers have now sought a new route for release. Just like Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3, Abir Gulaal will also mark its worldwide release, with India not being on the map.

Abir Gulaal skips India release

According to a report by BizAsia, the film will have a global release on August 29,  but makes no mention of India being part of the distribution plan. It will likely skip release within the country, owing to political tensions between India and Pakistan.

The same strategy was applied by the makers of Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3 after the film faced backlash for Hania Aamir’s casting. The makers opted for a worldwide release, skipping India, and the film went on to become a box office hit overseas, emerging as the highest-grossing Punjabi film worldwide.

Earlier, the Raid 2 actress had defended the overseas release of Sardaar Ji 3. She said, “I am assuming his film was shot before the atrocious attack, and I am assuming, as a producer, his money must have been stuck. I guess some 100 technicians were involved in making the film. The situation was different when the film was shot. I don’t think he was meaning to disrespect the nation.”

About Abir Gulaal

Talking about Abir Gulaal, the film was originally set to release on May 9. It marked Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood after Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. However, in the aftermath of the brutal Pahalgam attack on April 22, the film’s release was banned in India. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) announced a ban on Pakistani artistes, stating they would “take all necessary steps to ensure that Abir Gulaal is not released in India.”

On the work front, Vaani last starred in the Netflix series Mandala Murders. The thriller saw her essaying the role of a cop who investigates the mystery behind murders in the village of Chandarpur.