Prakash Raj Defends Fawad Khan’s Abir Gulaal, Opposes Film Bans: “Let the Audience Decide”

Veteran actor Prakash Raj has come out strongly against the ban on Abir Gulaal, a romantic drama featuring Fawad Khan and Vaani Kapoor. In a candid interview with The Lallantop, Raj emphasized that no film—regardless of its political leaning or message—should be banned unless it contains illegal content such as pornography or child abuse.

“I don’t support the banning of any film, whether it’s right-wing or propaganda. It’s the audience’s right to decide. Let the people choose what they want to watch,” he said.

Citing examples like Padmaavat (2018), Pathaan (2023), and L2: Empuraan, Raj highlighted how easily public outrage is sparked today, often leading to threats and intimidation. Referring to the controversy around Deepika Padukone’s costume in Pathaan and threats made during the release of Padmaavat, he remarked, “People threaten to behead or harm actors over creative choices—what kind of message does that send?”

Raj criticized the current political climate for enabling such censorship and creating an atmosphere of fear within the film industry. “The government is allowing this to happen. They’re supporting it enough to let fear take root. This has shifted from state censorship to centralized control, where they decide what stories get told,” he warned.

According to Raj, the intent behind these actions is to discourage the next generation of creators from challenging the status quo or exploring bold narratives. “It’s about silencing discourse. The film industry is already vulnerable because of the financial risks involved. Add fear to that, and you kill creativity,” he concluded.