‘We work for everyone’: Sunny Deol reacts to Fawad Khan’s controversial Bollywood comeback

Veteran actor Sunny Deol has weighed in on the return of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan to Hindi cinema, expressing a neutral stance that leans towards artistic collaboration beyond borders. Speaking to HT City, Deol stated he doesn’t oppose Pakistani actors working in India, even amid heightened political sensitivities.

Sunny Deol, known for patriotic films like Border and Gadar, was responding to queries about Fawad Khan’s lead role in the upcoming film Abir Gulaal, set to release in theatres on 9 May. "We are actors; we work for everyone all over the world... We should stay global," Deol said, adding that political interference often complicates such issues unnecessarily.

His comments follow opposition from Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), which announced it would protest the release of Abir Gulaal over Fawad Khan's involvement. The film, directed by Aarti S Bagdi and produced by Indian Stories along with A Richer Lens and Aarjay Pictures, pairs Fawad Khan with Vaani Kapoor.

Khan, who made his Bollywood debut in Khoobsurat (2014), rose to prominence with Kapoor & Sons (2016) and had a cameo in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. His career was disrupted after an unofficial ban on Pakistani artistes was imposed in India in 2016 due to political tensions. Although the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking an official ban in 2023, the matter continues to stir public and political debate.

Meanwhile, Sunny Deol's film Jaat hits theatres today, further spotlighting the actor as both a cinematic and political figure in contemporary discourse.