Shortly after India lifted the ban on Pakistani actors from working in Bollywood, Fawad Khan marked his return to the neighbouring entertainment industry with the announcement of his upcoming film, Abir Gulaal, in which he stars alongside Vaani Kapoor.

During an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Abir Gulaal co-actor Ridhi Dogra revealed that she ensured legal checks were clear before signing on a project with Fawad Khan. "I don't think there's a division in art. Whenever we watch something, we watch it for the characters. We don't wonder who the actors are and where they come from. We don't see all that. We don't see nationality. That's what I kept in mind when choosing to work on the film," she shared.

"The only care I took was in confirming whether or not I am allowed to work with said nationality (Pakistanis). And yes, our country and government grant us the permission to do so. If it wasn't allowed, I wouldn't have done it," she further elaborated.

In 2019, the AICWA (All Indian Cine Workers Association) had imposed a total ban on Pakistani actors which was put into effect after tensions between the two countries over Kashmir's disputed territory escalated into the Pulwama attack. In late 2023, however, the Bombay High Court relaxed the imposed restrictions, with the Supreme Court further dismissing the petition to ban Indian citizens from working with Pakistani artistes.