After facing significant delays due to geopolitical tensions, Fawad Khan’s much-anticipated Bollywood comeback film Aabeer Gulaal is finally set to release worldwide, two weeks after its international premiere.
The cross-border romantic drama, also starring Vaani Kapoor, was initially scheduled for a May 9 release. However, the tragic Pahalgam attack and escalating Indo-Pak tensions led to the film’s indefinite postponement in India.
Despite this, Aabeer Gulaal released overseas on September 12, 2025, following a release pattern similar to Diljit Dosanjh’s Sardaar Ji 3, which also faced delays due to its Pakistani co-star, Hania Aamir.
Sardar Ji 3 has broken all records worldwide, the film earned $751,660 in North America, bringing its total box office earnings in the region to $2.76 million.
Fawad opened up about the emotional toll the delay took on him. "I was very worried. There was a lot of pressure around the film’s release,” he admitted. “But my belief in the story and its message helped me push forward.”
Describing Aabeer Gulaal as a "palette cleanser" in the current climate of dark and intense cinema, Fawad compared the film to “a comforting dish made of simple ingredients, where every flavour is allowed to stand out clearly.”
The domestic release now comes just ahead of another highly charged India-Pakistan face-off — this time on the cricket field. The Asia Cup 2025 match between the two nations is scheduled for September 14, just two days after the film’s Indian premiere.
In related news, the Supreme Court of India on Thursday declined to entertain a plea seeking cancellation of the high-stakes cricket match. The bench remarked, “It’s just a match, let it remain a match,” brushing off concerns over national sentiment and security.
With political tensions still looming and emotions running high ahead of the sporting clash, Aabeer Gulaal walks a fine line — one of art trying to bridge borders, even in turbulent times.
In India the movie will release on 26th September.
