Fawad Khan’s Bollywood comeback film Abir Gulaal will hit Pakistani cinemas on August 29, while international audiences will have to wait until September 12, as distributors have confirmed a delayed worldwide release.

 

 

The romantic drama, directed by Aarti S. Bagdi and starring Vaani Kapoor alongside Fawad Khan, will be screened in more than 1,000 cinemas across 75 countries. While the international release date has now been revised for a third time, the Pakistan schedule remains unchanged.

 

 

The film was originally set to be released on May 9, but was postponed to late August. Despite its international release, Abir Gulaal will not be screened in India due to bans on Pakistani artists. This prohibition was imposed by the Central Board of Film Certification after the 2019 Pulwama attack, reinforced following the April 22 Pahalgam attack this year, and continues under pressure from organisations such as the All Indian Cine Workers Association and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees.

 

 

The movie is produced by Indian Stories, A Richer Lens, and Aarjay Pictures. The production team includes Vivek B Agarwal, Avantika Hari, and Rakesh Sippy.

 

 

Fawad Khan portrays a UK-based chef, while Vaani Kapoor plays the lead female character. The cast also features Lisa Haydon, Ridhi Dogra, Parmeet Sethi, and Farida Jalal.

 

 

In the lead-up to its debut, the film's soundtrack, composed by Amit Trivedi, has generated strong interest. Several songs have already been released online and resonated with listeners, keeping the project in the public eye despite multiple delays.

 

 

Abir Gulaal marks Khan’s return to Bollywood after nearly a decade. His previous films in India include Khoobsurat (2014), Kapoor & Sons (2016), and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).