Over the years, veteran filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has made a mark in the entertainment industry. Currently serving as the President of the Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA), he never shies away from expressing his opinion on matters relating to the film industry. A day after the makers of Abir Gulaal, starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, announced the project with an adorable teaser, a section of the internet expressed their disappointment. He has now spoken in support of them and strongly opposed the Pakistani actor’s return to Bollywood.
Watch: Addressing the question of why the makers approached Pakistani actor Fawad Khan despite the official ban on Pakistani actors in Indian films, President of IFTDA Ashoke Pandit says, “It’s basically being insensitive towards the cause of our country. That is the basic… pic.twitter.com/bLSRVas8j1
— IANS (@ians_india) April 3, 2025
In a recent interview with the news agency IANS, Pandit has shared his take on the ongoing controversy of Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) opposing Abir Gulaal’s release in Maharashtra. He stated that the “entire nation” will be outraged over the release of the film since Pakistani artists are officially banned in India. Criticising the industry’s continued engagement with Pakistani artists, he expressed that letting them work in India is “insensitive to national interests.” Challenging the notion that “art transcends borders,” he went on to question why no single Pakistani artist has ever publicly denounced attacks against India’s soldiers and civilians.
SEE ALSO: Fawad Khan Returns To Bollywood With Vaani Kapoor Co-Starrer Abir Gulaal; Makers Release First Promo
Quoted by the Free Press Journal, he added, “Let me ask you this-out of all the attacks on our country, where have we seen any Pakistani artist or public figure condemn these acts? Not a single one has publicly denounced the brutal attacks carried out against our soldiers, innocent civilians, or our country.”
Assuring that the nation will react to the release of the film, the 67-year-old filmmaker said, “If you believe you are above national sentiment, then it’s essential that there be consequences. And I assure you, the entire nation will react to this film. I am confident that there will be widespread protests, with people taking to the streets to express their disapproval.”
SEE ALSO: Fawad Khan’s Bollywood Comeback Lands In Trouble? Shiv Sena & MNS Leaders Oppose Abir Gulaal’s Release
Pandit mentioned in the same interview that the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) and other major producers organisations like IMPA and WIFPA had jointly decided that they would prohibit Pakistani actors and technicians from working in India, after the 2019 Pulwama attack. Mentioned the same, he added that the federation will “convene a meeting” to decide their next course of action.
Directed by Aarti S. Bagdi, Abir Gulaal is produced by Indian Stories and A Richer Lens in association with Aarjay Pictures. Starring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, the film will be released on the big screens on May 9, 2025.
It is to be noted that that film marks Fawad’s return to Bollywood after 9 years as there had been a ban on Pakistani actors working in Indian films since 2019, due to political disputes between the two countries. It was in 2023, that the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition that officially sought a ban on Pakistani artists working in India. He was last seen in Bollywood films Kapoor & Sons (2016) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).