Pakistani filmmakers and showbiz personalities have reacted strongly to India's ban on Fawad Khan’s film Abir Gulaal.
Filmmaker Nabeel Qureshi urged the government to require Pakistani actors to obtain a no-objection certificate (NoC) before signing any Indian projects, following the Indian cinema federation’s decision to ban Fawad Khan’s Bollywood film Abir Gulaal.
"It’s a matter of the country’s dignity," Qureshi told the media. "In the future, as India continues to impose blanket bans on Pakistan, our government should also make it mandatory for actors to seek a NoC before working on any projects there."
He added, "Our actors must show integrity not just as artists but also as Pakistanis. India clearly does not welcome them, as shown again despite the recent Pahalgam terror attack."
Qureshi noted that speculations around the film’s release had been circulating for some time, and now, releasing the film in India seems impossible.
The team launched the promotion of Abir Gulaal in Dubai with a music event. However, two songs from the film — Khudaya Ishq and Angreji Rangrasiya — have been removed from YouTube India following the Pahalgam attack.
"This was not unexpected," said Pakistani film critic and journalist Kamran Jawaid. "If not for the recent tragedy in Pahalgam, India would have found another reason — big, small, legitimate, or otherwise — to act."
