Abir Gulaal

Abir Gulaal is a 2025 unreleased and shelved romantic comedy film produced by Vivek Agrawal and directed by Aarti S. Bagdi.

The film stars Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Indian actor Vaani Kapoor in the lead,^[1][2] it was scheduled for release on 9 May 2025 but was later postponed indefinitely following the 2025 Pahalgam attack and ensuing India–Pakistan diplomatic tensions.^[3]

Gulaal Bajaj has always dreamed of living a life free from her father’s rules and regulations. Winning a food contest lands her a job in London as a chef at a restaurant called The Rasoe—whose owner, Abir Singh, she has already crossed paths with. As Gulaal sets off on this newfound journey of freedom, Abir is unexpectedly assigned the role of her babysitter by Gulaal’s father. He repeatedly shows up to rescue her from one disaster after another. What began as playful flirting and turned into rivalry slowly blossoms into a love neither of them anticipated. However, as secrets from the past surface, their relationship is put to the test. In an effort to make amends, Gulaal sacrifices her love for Abir—but this act ultimately brings them closer than ever.^[4]

• Fawad Khan
• Vaani Kapoor
• Riddhi Dogra
• Lisa Haydon
• Farida Jalal
• Soni Razdan
• Parmeet Sethi
• Rahul Vohra
• Amrit Sandhu
• Sujoy De
• Dev Agrawal
• William Seabury

The film was first reported to be in development in July 2024.^[5] It is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi and produced by Indian Stories and A Richer Lens Entertainment. Producers include Vivek Agrawal, Avantika Hari and Rakesh Sippy.^[6]

The cast is led by Fawad Khan, Vaani Kapoor, Riddhi Dogra, Lisa Haydon, Farida Jalal, Soni Razdan, Parmeet Sethi and Rahul Vohra.^[7][8] The film has a supporting cast from India and UK.^[9]

Principal photography took place in London, England from 29 September 2024 with a filming schedule lasting into October and November.^[10][11]

Abir Gulaal, was initially scheduled for theatrical release on May 9, 2025. However, following the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, which resulted in significant casualties, the film's release faced substantial opposition.^[12] Indian government sources confirmed that the movie would not be allowed to release in India due to heightened political tensions between Pakistan and India and calls for a ban on Pakistani artists in Indian cinema.^[13] Subsequently, Pakistani authorities also decided to ban the film, citing the involvement of Indian actress Vaani Kapoor.^[14] As of April 2025, the film remains unreleased in both countries, with its future distribution uncertain amid ongoing diplomatic strains.^[15][16]

• Abir Gulaal at IMDb
• Abir Gulaal at Bollywood Hungama