Fawad Khan’s movie, Abir Gulaal, gets new title and release date

Pakistani superstar Fawad Khan’s much-delayed Bollywood project Abir Gulaal is set to hit screens on August 29 under a new title, Aabeer Gulaal, according to reports in the Indian press.

The romantic comedy, directed by Aarti S Bagdi and produced by Vivek Agrawal, stars Khan opposite Indian actress Vaani Kapoor. It was initially scheduled for release on May 12 this year. However, days before its planned debut, a militant attack in the Pahalgam area of Indian-occupied Kashmir prompted India to accuse Pakistan of involvement — a charge Islamabad has consistently rejected. The incident led to a fresh ban on Pakistani artists and YouTube channels, indefinitely halting the film’s release in India.

Bypassing Indian cinemas
As per Times of India, the film’s title has been slightly altered from Abir Gulaal to Aabeer Gulaal. Gulf-based media outlet Gul News reported that UAE cinema chain Vox Cinemas lists the film’s release date as August 29.

The distributor, Indian Stories Ltd, has confirmed the film will bypass Indian cinemas altogether, opting for a global release strategy. The move mirrors the approach taken with Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3, featuring Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, which was launched internationally but not in India — yet managed strong overseas box office returns.

Read More

Vikings’ Jefferson to miss Patriots game, re-evaluation next week

Cross-border pairing generates buzz
The on-screen pairing of Khan and Kapoor has attracted considerable anticipation on both sides of the border, despite strained cultural ties between India and Pakistan since 2016, when most collaborative projects were shelved.

Industry insiders remain doubtful about an eventual Indian release given the prevailing backlash against Pakistani talent in Bollywood. Nonetheless, the overseas launch is expected to draw significant diaspora audiences in the Middle East, North America and the UK.