New Delhi: Barely two weeks before the release of his Bollywood film Abir Gulaal, Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is once again facing a boycott in India after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, most of them tourists, in Kashmir. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees has announced that the film will not be released in India.
FWICE has also reiterated its 2019 directive against cooperating with Pakistani artists.
“We reiterate our directive, originally issued on February 18, 2019, calling for complete non-cooperation with all Pakistan artists, singers, and technicians within the Indian film and entertainment industry,” the statement read.
The organisation also assured that “all necessary steps” will be taken to prevent Abir Gulaal’s India release.
“Despite this ongoing directive, we have been made aware of the recent collaboration with Pakistani actor Fawad Khan for the Hindi film Abir Gullal… we will take all necessary steps to ensure that Abir Gullal is not released in India,” the statement further read.
FWICE emphasised that any member of the organisation or its affiliate associations, including actors, directors, technicians, and producers or production houses, if found cooperating with Pakistani personnel, will be subject to disciplinary action.
Amid this, Fawad Khan has condemned the Pahalgam attack.
“Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time,” he wrote in an Instagram Story.
Calls for boycott
In 2016, before the release of Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in which Fawad played a supporting role, the Uri attack had similarly led to calls for a nationwide ban on Pakistani artists in India.
Nearly nine years later, as Khan geared up for his long-awaited comeback with Abir Gulaal, the Pahalgam attack has reignited calls for his boycott.
Abir Gulaal, also starring Vaani Kapoor, was set to release on 9 May.
On 23 April, the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA), one of the prominent voices demanding ban on Pakistani artists, strengthened its stance.
It wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah condemning the Pahalgam attack.
“More than the film industry, it is the central government’s responsibility to deny visas and work permits to Pakistani artists in the first place,” Sushama Shiromanee, IMPA vice-president, told ThePrint.
Notably, one of the producers of Abir Gulaal — A Richer Lens Entertainment — is a member of the IMPPA.
“The decision to release or not release [Abir Gulaal] lies in the hands of the producers,” she said.
A representative from A Richer Lens Entertainment said, “Terrorism ka entertainment se kya lena dena (What does terrorism have to do with entertainment)? This is my personal opinion. Rest, the decision on the film will be taken by higher authorities.”
Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association president Ashoke Pandit told ThePrint that the association has prepared a non-cooperation directive, set to be rolled out on 24 April.
The order calls for a complete boycott of Indian actors, singers, directors, and production houses if they collaborate with Pakistani artists — either in India or abroad — in the future.
“There is hypocrisy in the industry as we tend to forget what our country goes through,” he said. “Our artists think they are beyond country and beyond nation. They are very insensitive when they say that ‘we as artists don’t have borders.’ This kind of arrogance is unacceptable.”
(Edited by Prashant)
Why is it the Central governments responsibility? If you have any solidarity with your customers the Hindus you will not hire Pakistanis. But they come cheap. You look progressive and Hindus get conned. Blame the central government. What other lies and excuses do you need?
Why they are allowing pakistani actor this should be first question?