Even though director Kabir Khan's Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan was an optimistic take on India-Pakistan relations, it still managed to ruffle a few feathers what with its music controversy and speculation about whether it would be released in Pakistan.

Will Kabir Khan's next venture, Phantom fare better — or worse?

Based on the novel ‘Mumbai Avengers’ by S. Hussain Zaidi, the film revolves around the tragic November 26 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Hotel, which killed at least 166 people.

Starring Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif, Phantom has started getting attention for its controversial subject matter. To lend it a plausible edge, the trailer shows glimpses of real speeches by Hafiz Saeed of Jamatud Dawa who is alleged to be involved in the attacks.

Earlier, Kabir Khan had stressed that Phantom was 'anti-terrorism' not 'anti-Pakistan.' In what could be an attempt to de-escalate matters further, Saif Ali Khan, the man leading the operation against the accused, is shown as being Muslim. This isn’t the first time that Saif is playing such a role as he was previously seen as Agent Vinod in an espionage film Agent Vinod .

The film comes out during turbulent times as pressure to hand over Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the alleged perpetrators of the attack, to India or the International Criminal Court is building up on the present government.

Phantom is slated to release on August 28. We wonder if we'll get to see it in Pakistan!

Opinion

Editorial

Pathways to peace
Updated 27 Apr, 2026

Pathways to peace

NEGOTIATIONS to hammer out the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement took nearly two years before a breakthrough was achieved....
Food-insecure nation
27 Apr, 2026

Food-insecure nation

A NEW UN-backed report has listed Pakistan among 10 countries where acute food insecurity is most concentrated. This...
Migration toll
27 Apr, 2026

Migration toll

THE world should not be deceived by a global migration count lower than the highest annual statistics on record —...
Immunity gap
Updated 26 Apr, 2026

Immunity gap

Pakistan’s Big Catch-Up campaign showed progress but also exposed the scale of gaps in routine immunisation.
Danger on repeat
26 Apr, 2026

Danger on repeat

DISASTERS have typically been framed as acts of nature. Of late, they look increasingly like tests of preparedness...
Loose lips
26 Apr, 2026

Loose lips

PAKISTANIS have by now gained something of an international reputation for their gallows humour, but it seems that...