Fawad Khan condemns ‘heinous’ Pahalgam terror attack amid boycott calls for Abir Gulaal; netizens say ‘his luck is bad’

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who was set to mark his return to Bollywood after nearly 6 years with the movie Abir Gulaal, condemned the “heinous” terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack claimed at least 26 lives, mostly tourists.

Amid boycott calls for his movie opposite Vaani Kapoor, Fawad prayed for “strength and healing” for the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack in his Instagram story.

“Deeply saddened to hear the news of the heinous attack in Pahalgam. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of this horrifying incident, and we pray for strength and healing for their families in this difficult time,” the actor said.

Indians, who are mourning the loss of lives in the Pahalgam terror attack, demanded for a ban on the movie and Pakistani actors. The hashtag ‘boycott Abir Gulaal’ even began trending on Twitter (now X).

Abir Gulaal is scheduled to release worldwide on 9 May 2025.

Here's how netizens reacted to Fawad Khan's condolences:

Netizens said Fawad Khan has “bad luck” and the timing of his movie's release is poor. Highlighting that the Pakistani actor had only become active on social media for the promotion of his upcoming movie, netizens said his condolences won't make a difference to Indians calling for a boycott of Abir Gulaal.

“Film a rahi hai toh na sirf fawad khan instagram pe active hua hai sath sath politically active bhi hogaya hai- somebody tell my boy that indians are already calling to boycott Abir Gulaal in india so this will not save his ass at all as both timing and his luck is bad,” a user said.

“Fawad khan is unlucky for India,” a user claimed.

“Whenever Fawad Khan stars in a Bollywood movie, the whole subcontinent catches fire. Man’s filmography has more geopolitical plot twists than actual films,” added another user.

However, a few users believed that tensions between two nations must not overshadow the beauty of art.

“It’s unfortunate that tensions between nations often overshadow the beauty of art and the connections it can create. Fawad Khan’s work transcends borders and reminds us of our shared humanity. In times like these, it’s important to remember that films, music, and culture can bring us together, even when politics seeks to divide us,” a user said.

“Fawad Khan ko uske kaam ke paise mil gaye ab karte raho boycott drama ..this obsession with Pakistani actors/ singers is ridiculous..” added another user.

Film Federation bans Pakistani artists AGAIN

Meanwhile, the Film Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has announced a ban on all Pakistani artists, as it did before.

“The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) strongly condemns the heinous and cowardly attack on innocent tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.”

The FWICE said the Pahalgam attack, targeting a religious community, echoes the horror of the Pulwama attack on 14 February 2019, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.

“In the wake of these repeated attacks, FWICE reaffirms its unwavering commitment to national interest and solidarity. We reiterate our directive, originally issued on 18 February 2019, calling for complete non-cooperation with all Pakistan artists, singers, and technicians within the Indian film and entertainment industry.”