Sunny Deol Backs Artistic Unity Amid Fawad Khan’s Bollywood Return Controversy

Sunny Deol has voiced a balanced perspective on the controversy surrounding Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood with the film Abir Gulaal.

Amid political opposition led by groups like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), Deol emphasized the universality of art, stating, “We are actors; we work for everyone all over the world. Even if somebody is watching on Mars or anywhere, we are for everyone”.

Known for his patriotic roles in films like Gadar and Border, Deol avoided delving into political debates, instead advocating for a global and inclusive approach to artistic collaboration.

Deol’s comments come as Abir Gulaal, directed by Aarti S Bagdi and starring Fawad Khan alongside Vaani Kapoor, faces backlash due to lingering tensions over cross-border collaborations.

In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Sunny, addressing the heated debate,e said: “See, I wouldn’t like to go on to the political side because that’s where things start getting messy. We are actors; we work for everyone all over the world. Even if somebody is watching or not, we are for everyone. So, aisi koi baat nahi hain (nothing like that). The more the way the world has become, we should stay global and let there be more countries; that’s the way it should be.”

This marks Fawad Khan’s first Bollywood appearance since 2016, following an unofficial industry ban on Pakistani artists after political disputes.

Deol’s stance aligns with that of his Gadar co-star Ameesha Patel, who also expressed support for welcoming international artists, emphasizing that art transcends geopolitical boundaries.