Aabeer Gulaal Review: Critics Call Fawad Khan-Vaani Kapoor`s Film `Frustrating`
Updated on: 17 September, 2025 12:17 PM IST |Shweta Shah
Aabeer Gulaal first reviews out, critics call it "cheap and frustrating"
After being the centre of controversy, the Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor starrer Aabeer Gulaal saw a worldwide theatrical release except in India. The romantic drama was released on September 17 globally. However, the film continues to be banned in India.
The ban followed the cowardly terror attack in Kashmir`s Pahalgam earlier this year, where Lashkar-linked terrorists targeted tourists, killing 27 innocent lives. This resulted in India putting a ban on Pakistani artists in any and every form.
Now, as the much-awaited romantic drama releases globally, movie critics have given a negative review, with some even calling the film `frustrating`.
Aabeer Gulaal`s first review out
The Fawad-Vaani romantic saga has left many movie critics angered and wondering what`s happening with Bollywood. BBC Network`s popular movie critic, Haroon Rashid, called it a "frustrating romantic drama".
His review read, "I found this to be one of the most frustrating romantic dramas I’ve watched in a very long time. Not only does it look cheap, but it is such an incoherent, inconsistent storyline, which is such an injustice to the talent that you’re working with."
Also Read: Vaani Kapoor Finally Opens Up On Abir Gulaal Ban
Gulf News called the film unnecessarily slow and said Lisa Haydon`s review adds no value to the narrative. The review further called the film `padded and bloated`.
A part of Gulf News` review read, "`Abir Gulaal` is bloated, padded with unnecessary segues that drag the runtime. Lisa Haydon’s cameo is the biggest offender—it adds nothing, apart from reminding us that Bollywood can’t resist shoehorning in familiar faces. A tighter cut would have sharpened the storytelling and saved us from mid-movie fidgeting."
The Khaleej Times also reviewed Aabeer Gulaal and wrote, "Thanks to sloppy editing, half-baked characters leave us with loose ends everywhere. The consensus is that the film did not meet expectations in narrative or production quality."
More about Aabeer Gulaal
The announcement of Vaani Kapoor and Fawad Khan coming together for a quintessential Bollywood romantic drama had caused a stir all over the internet. Fans were ecstatic to see the Pakistani star return to the Hindi cinema.
However, the Pahalgam terror attacks called for a ban for all Pakistani artists, including restrictions on their social media and deleting all Pakistani shows from YouTube.
Aabeer Gulaal marked Fawad`s return to Bollywood after nine years. He has done several projects in the Indian cinema, including Kapoor and Sons, Khoobsurat, and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.
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