- By Aarushi Raina
- Mon, 19 May 2025 09:04 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Actress Ridhi Dogra and her film Abir Gulaal, co-starring Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, who is making his Bollywood return almost a decade after, have been embroiled in controversy. In the wake of the brutal and deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 innocent lives, followed by Operation Sindoor, the movie’s release was indefinitely delayed. Following these tragic incidents, India imposed a ban on Pakistani artists and also banned the release of Abir Gulaal in the country. Ridhi, who supported the decision to postpone the movie after Jammu, home to the actor, was heavily targeted by terrorists, revealed that she faced harsh comments on social media and was even bullied for working with Fawad in the film.
Ridhi Dogra, in a recent conversation with Hindustan Times, opened up about constant trolling towards her. She said, "In the case of the film, I spoke for our country, and suddenly I was being bullied by saying 'arre but she worked with (Fawad Khan)'. But I was firm. Don't bully me. I am as much a citizen of this country as you. When I did that work, I was very mindful of the laws of our country. I didn't do anything illegal. And today, when we are in this situation, I feel I want to stand by my country, my armed forces. And not because I am anything important, but just because you all are too."
Calling the terror attack in Pahalgam as scary, the actress added, “We were constantly on call with our family in Jammu and our relatives in Amritsar. There was a complete blackout. From their rooftops, they could see strange lights and flying objects in the sky. And all we could do was sit and wait. It's a strange feeling of helplessness. I was just praying and crying, and also feeling grateful for our armed forces, who were there at the border, protecting us while we sleep. It was not anything you wish upon anybody. It was a very hard time."
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This is not the first time Ridhi reacted to backlash over her starring in Fawad starrer Abir Gulaal. Earlier, she posted on social media and clarified that she stands by the law and only did the film when it was allowed by the government.
The romantic movie has been directed by Aarti S and produced by Vivek B. Agrawal. Abir Gulaal stars Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan in lead roles, along with Soni Razdan, Lisa Haydon, Ridhi Dogra and Farida Jalal in key roles. The movie was slated to hit the theatres on May 9, but there is no update so far.
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