"you are the squirrel from Ice Age.”
Arslan Naseer blamed Fawad Khan for an apparent clampdown on Pakistani celebrities’ Instagram accounts in India.
Arslan, who stars alongside Khan in the recently banned film Abir Gulaal, claimed the actor was to blame for the current restrictions.
Instagram accounts of several major Pakistani stars are no longer accessible to Indian users.
A message now appears, saying: “Account not available in India.
“This is because we complied with a legal request to restrict this content.”
The development comes in the wake of the recent attack in Pahalgam, which has heightened tensions between the two countries.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in India has not commented publicly on the blocks, which also affect Ali Zafar, Sanam Saeed, Bilal Abbas, Momina Mustehsan, Iqra Aziz, Imran Abbas, and Sajal Aly.
Arslan posted a sarcastic message about his Abir Gulaal co-star on social media.
Referring to Scrat, the long-snouted squirrel from the Ice Age film franchise, he wrote:
“Fawad bhai did a film, there are tensions at the border, but I am getting banned.
“Please don’t mind, but you are the squirrel from Ice Age.”
While Arslan’s comments seemed to imply his own account had been blocked, both his Instagram and X handles are currently visible in India.
Arslan Naseer and Fawad Khan’s film Abir Gulaal has reportedly also been banned in India.
The film was slated for a theatrical release on May 9, 2025, aiming to reach audiences in both countries.
However, political tensions have derailed those plans.
While India’s unofficial ban came first, Pakistan soon followed with a more formal rejection of the film’s release.
Film distributor Satish Anand confirmed that Pakistan’s decision was a direct response to India’s stance.
He explained: “This is Pakistan’s response to India’s ban.
“Since the film stars an Indian actress, we have also decided to halt its release.”
According to Anand, the decision came at a particularly damaging time, just as the local industry was attempting to rebound with international content.
Abir Gulaal now stands in limbo.
Its global release is under threat, and sources suggest that the May 9 premiere has been postponed indefinitely.
Arslan Naseer, also known for roles in Chupke Chupke, Hona Tha Pyar and Siyaah, has not commented further.
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