Sushmita Sen supports Fawad Khan’s return to bollywood, says “Talent has no boundaries” |

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is set to make a comeback in Bollywood with his upcoming film ‘Abir Gulaal.’ The news has sparked debate within both the Indian film industry and political circles, especially concerning the participation of Pakistani artists in Hindi films. Amid this discussion, actress Sushmita Sen shared her thoughts, stating that talent and creativity should not be limited by national borders.

Sushmita Sen defends Fawad Khan

Sushmita Sen was questioned recently by Instant Bollywood regarding Pakistani actors like Fawad Khan appearing in Indian movies. She responded, “Dekhiye mujhe itna sab nahi pata. Mujhe sirf pata hai ki hunar aur creativity mein koi boundaries nahi hoti. Honi bhi nahi chahiye. Kyunki yehi ek cheez hai…Ek sports hai, aur ek humari creative field hai, jahaa par our creativity is born from freedom. So I wish that for everyone. There is no Sarhad for that.” Her views that artistic expression needs to surpass national or regional boundaries are reflected in her words.
(“Look, I don’t know much about all this. All I know is that there are no boundaries in talent and creativity. Nor should there be. Because this is the one thing… One is sport, and the other is our creative field where our creativity is born from freedom. So I wish that for everyone—there should be no borders for that.”)

Political backlash ahead of ‘Abir Gulaal’ release

On May 9, 2025, ‘Abir Gulaal,’ which stars Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor and is directed by Aarti S. Bagdi, will be released in theaters. But the movie has already received criticism, particularly in Maharashtra, where some industry insiders and political figures are calling for a boycott. This response demonstrates how delicate the subject of working with Pakistani artists is still.

Fawad Khan’s recent performances

In Bollywood, Fawad Khan was previously praised for his performances in ‘Khoobsurat’ (2014), ‘Kapoor & Sons’ (2016), and ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ (2016). He was able to connect with Indian audiences thanks to his performances, which were praised for their charisma and depth. However, these cross-border partnerships eventually came to an end due to political tensions.