Fawad Khan and Bollywood actor Vaani Kapoor have begun shooting their romantic comedy Abir Gulaal in London, according to an exclusive report by Variety. The film, directed by Aarti S. Bagdi (Chalti Rahe Zindagi), is being produced by Indian Stories, A Richer Lens, and Aarjay Pictures, with producers Vivek B. Agrawal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy. Filming is scheduled to take place in the UK throughout October and November.
Bagdi shared with Variety that Abir Gulaal is about “the journey of two individuals who unintentionally help each other heal, with love blossoming as an unexpected consequence.”
Producers of the film highlighted Fawad Khan’s global fan base and expressed excitement about his role: “Fawad has a massive global fan base, and we anticipate that audiences and his fans will wholeheartedly embrace this film, as it showcases him in his most endearing role yet.” They also emphasized the chemistry between Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor, which is expected to captivate audiences.
This project marks Khan’s return to Bollywood after years of speculation. Earlier reports suggested his involvement in other Bollywood projects, including a cameo in Kartik Aaryan’s upcoming Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, but Abir Gulaal is his only confirmed Indian project. His last appearance in Bollywood was in Karan Johar’s 2016 romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, where he starred alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma.
Khan’s return is significant in the context of recent bans and tensions between India and Pakistan. Following the 2016 friction between the two nations, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association imposed a ban on Pakistani artists. This was further reinforced by the All Indian Cine Workers Association’s 2019 ban after the Pulwama attacks. However, in a landmark 2022 decision, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking to prevent Indian entities from working with Pakistani artists, viewing it as a backward step for cultural unity.
With this backdrop, Abir Gulaal represents an important step toward cross-border cultural exchange and marks Khan’s highly anticipated return to the Indian film industry.