Fawad Khan & Vaani Kapoor's song Khudaya Ishq from Abir Gulaal REMOVED from Youtube India amid Pahalgam row

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s anticipated return to Indian cinema after nearly a decade has hit a major roadblock. His upcoming film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Bollywood actress Vaani Kapoor, has reportedly been banned in India following the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The fallout appears to have extended beyond just the film, as its songs have now been removed from YouTube India amid growing boycott sentiment online.

The makers had earlier released two tracks from Abir Gulaal: a soulful romantic number titled Khudaya Ishq and a high-energy dance song, Angreji Rangrasiya. Both songs were initially uploaded to the official channel of A Richer Lens Entertainment—the production company behind the film—but have now mysteriously vanished. Additionally, music giant Saregama, which holds the rights to the soundtrack, has also taken the songs down from its YouTube channel.

So far, neither the film’s team nor the lead actors have issued any statement regarding the removal of the songs or the controversy surrounding the project. However, Vaani Kapoor has made a quiet but telling move—she has deleted a promotional video featuring Fawad Khan that she had shared on April 22, the same day the Pahalgam attack took place.

Vaani has also been facing significant online criticism for collaborating with a Pakistani actor during a period of heightened tension. The hashtag #BoycottVaaniKapoor trended on social media on Wednesday, as many questioned her silence on the terror attack. Responding to the criticism late that evening, she posted a statement on Instagram expressing her grief: Have been numb, at a loss of words since the time I have seen the attack on innocent people in Pahalgam. Gutted. Devastated. My prayers are with the family.

The controversy highlights the continued strain between art and politics, especially when cross-border collaborations are involved during times of national distress. Whether Abir Gulaal will see any form of release in India remains uncertain, as both public sentiment and political pressure appear to be growing.