Pankaj on Pakistani actors working Indian cinema

Fawad Khan had been long awaiting his return to the world of

Bollywood

, and just when he was about to return after 2016 with the film ‘

Abir Gulaal

’, all hell broke loose. The recent Pahalgam attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 26 people has sparked major outrage across the nation. Authorities have taken heavy measures to ensure the safety of the country’s citizens and the nation’s security as well.

The film may not be released in India as of right now

Due to the recent attack, a major crackdown is being done on Pakistani media platforms. The government banned more than 18 Pakistani channels on a popular video streaming platform as well. Due to this, it was also indirectly confirmed that ‘Abir Gulaal’ may not be released on screen in India as of right now, as shared by a report from News18.

Pankaj Tripathi on whether Pakistani actors should be allowed to work in Indian cinema or not

In a recent interview from the same report, actor Pankaj Tripathi talked about Pahalgam and shared his opinion on the matter. He shared, I was sad and upset and angry. It saddens me. I feel angry about it. I also feel helpless sometimes.” When asked about whether there is any future for Pakistani actors in the country, he shared that he is not the best person to share anything about the matter. He stated that “I think I am not the authority to decide anything. Authorities must decide; we have a board for it. They must make a decision.”

The landscape of Indian cinema regarding Pakistani actors

While generally the participation of Pakistani actors in Indian cinema was well received, with the likes of Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Ali Zafar, and Imran Abbas all releasing projects in India. In light of the recent event of the terror attack in Pahalgam as well as the Uri terror attack, there has been an indefinite ban on Pakistani actors.

Organisations like the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) had announced this ban earlier that year. A petition was filed to formalise the ban, and while it was rejected in 2023 by the Bombay High Court, an unofficial stoppage has always been in place.

Fawad’s previous projects in India

Fawad

Khan

has been one of the most popular Pakistani actors in Indian cinema. Previously, Khan worked on three separate projects in India, all of which became popular wonders in the world of cinema. First, he worked in ‘Khoobsurat’ in 2014 alongside Sonam Kapoor. Next, he worked in ‘Kapoor & Sons’ alongside Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil with Rabir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan in 2016.

His recent projects

Recently, Tripathi has been chosen as the brand ambassador for the brand ‘Euro Adhesives’. In relation to the new collaboration, he was asked why he chose to work with this brand, to which he gave an insightful answer.
He shared that “I am very selective with regard to brand associations because I have my own values. Therefore, when they approached me, I did my research and realised that they are very similar to me. They also started small and are big today. We met and joined hands. This will be a strong bond, like the one I have with my audience."