Forbidden is a 2018 Indian-American short drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Vibha Gulati and starring Gulshan Grover, Salony Luthra, Gopal Divan and Dhanish Karthik.
Jasleen and Manpreet fall in love but eventually Jasleen faces the wrath of her father and brother, Fahwaz.
The film is based on a true story of Harpreet, director Vibha Gulati's friend, who was murdered at age 25 for falling in love with someone against her family's will. Gulati said that as a woman of a minority group, she found it hard to find investors for the film. Salony Luthra auditioned for the role of an Indian American medical student via Skype when she was in Budapest for an international project. The makers of the film liked her body language but were insistent that she work on her accent. Salony underwent training under Hollywood stuntman Robbie P Smith.
A critic from Indie Shorts Mag. wrote, "âÂÂForbiddenâ is riveting, moving and above all, thought-provoking". Shewonda Leger, a critic from agnès films and assistant professor at Florida International University, wrote, "Forbidden is a film that is well worth seeing. In just 20 minutes, it questions a long-held cruel practice that has claimed the lives of thousands of women around the world and exemplifies fearless love".