Overview

• The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially banned the May 9 release of 'Abir Gulaal,' citing the casting of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan.
• The film faced mounting backlash after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, intensifying calls for a boycott.
• Prakash Raj publicly criticized the ban, arguing that censorship stifles creative expression and should only apply to content like child abuse or pornography.
• Raj highlighted selective censorship, questioning why films like 'The Kashmir Files' released without obstacles while others face bans despite CBFC clearance.
• The Federation of Western India Cine Employees and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena reinforced industry-wide non-cooperation with Pakistani artists, further limiting the film's prospects.