Prakash Raj Says Fawad Khan's Abir Gulaal Should Release In India: 'I'm Not For Banning Of Films…' - Entertainment
Prakash Raj strongly opposes the banning of any film, regardless of its ideology, arguing that public sentiments are too easily offended nowadays. He cited examples like Deepika Padukone’s Padmaavat (2018), Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan (2023), and more recent cases such as Prithviraj Sukumaran’s L2: Empuraan, and Fawad Khan’s Abir Gulaal. “I’m not for any banning of films, whether it’s right-wing or a propaganda film. Let people decide. People have the right. You can’t ban films, unless it’s pornography or about child abuse. But thought process? So what? Let them come, no,” said Prakash, reacting to the ban of Aarti S Bagdi’s romantic drama Abir Gulaal, starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan in the lead role.
In an interview with The Lallantop, he added, “Today, anybody can get hurt. ‘I’ll chop off the nose of Deepika Padukone! I’ll behead her!’ Useey kya hoga Shah Rukh Khan… just because of a colour? Besharam Rang na… they can make a hue and cry about anything they don’t like.” Prakash Raj was referring to the Shri Rajput Karni Sena’s threats to harm Deepika Padukone over Padmaavat, which they claimed misrepresented Rajput history. He also pointed to objections raised against the saffron bikini in Deepika’s song Besharam Rang from Siddharth Anand’s spy thriller Pathaan.
Actor Prakash Raj, who is known for his strong opinions, recently opened up about Pakistani actor Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor's 'Abir Gulaal' not being allowed to be released in India after the ghastly Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22.
Read in detail:… pic.twitter.com/ivcHEhtT3W — IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 5, 2025
Prakash argued that the current political climate enables such controversies, stating, “The present power is letting it happen. They’re giving them enough support to let it happen, to create a fear in society.” He highlighted how censorship is stifling creativity in the film industry, saying, “Certain films are not being made in this country. They will not let it because there’s censorship. There was state censorship. Now, they’ve clearly brought it to Central censorship. They decide what’s made. Film industry is a very vulnerable industry. There’s money. So their whole idea is to bring so much fear so that the next generation decides not to even write what they otherwise would. They don’t want this discourse.”
FINALLY!
Finally, I&B Ministry is getting ready to show SOME Spine!
I&B Ministry sources say the movie 'Abir Gulaal', starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, will not be allowed to be released in Bharat.🔥 pic.twitter.com/9ll6JcuBVM — BhikuMhatre (@MumbaichaDon) April 24, 2025
He also discussed L2: Empuraan, which was initially approved by the Central Board of Film Certification but faced backlash over its alleged depiction of the 2002 Godhra violence in Gujarat. Following objections, Mohanlal apologized, and the film underwent edits. Prakash contrasted this with films like The Kashmir Files, which faced fewer hurdles, noting, “The Kashmir Files will release. But some other films won’t. There’s a conscious attempt that every party will do. Today, it’s BJP, but it happened before also. Every powerful central government is always intolerant of questioning. That’s why anybody you give too much power to, will become intolerable.” He emphasized that excessive control by any ruling power leads to intolerance, curbing creative freedom and open discourse in cinema.
