Actor portraying Hafiz Saeed in Phantom goes underground
The actor who plays the Jamatud Dawa (JUD) Chief Hafiz Saeed – alleged by India to be the Mumbai attacks mastermind – in Saif Ali Khan's upcoming film Phantom is in hiding for security reasons, IANS reported.
Phantom stars Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif in a story that revolves around the tragic November 26 Mumbai attacks at the Taj Hotel, which killed at least 166 people. The film is set five years after the attacks, when a retired army officer leads a mission to seek out and kill the terror masterminds.
Also read: Saif Ali Khan's film Phantom is about the Mumbai attacks. How will it fare?
The film, which is based on the novel ‘Mumbai Avengers’ by S. Hussain Zaidi, was recently banned by the Lahore High Court after a petition was filed by Hafiz Saeed. The JUD chief was tried and acquitted by the Lahore High Court in 2010.
Saif Ali Khan's subsequent statement, saying that he has "lost faith in Pakistan", caused an uproar in Pakistan.
The actor, Shahnawaz Pradhan, is thus being kept underground as a precautionary measure.
"The security of all our actors is extremely important for us and now that his identity is revealed, there are precautionary measures being taken," the film's spokesperson said in a statement.
The film will release in India today.
Comments (107) Closed
Actor hides while non state actor roams freely.
Why ban....Next day pirated CDs will be available in the market....
I will definitely watch this movie, will be funny .
This movie has evoked my curiosity , I will see the movie to understand what the fuss is all about.
Should be fun to watch .
its all publicity stunt., which is very usual in indian film industry., create controversy and amass the wealth.
This is a mere propaganda movie. The Alleged security reason seems cheap publicity stunt.
@Rao ...why pay to watch anti pakistani movies when free pirated copies are available. common sense!!
"The actor, Shahnawaz Pradhan, is thus being kept underground as a precautionary measure" they are just trying to create a scene...whether or not the movie is banned, we dont give a damn...it cant even equal to dust of a pksitsani's shoe....
I will watch!!
Saif Ali Khan is pretty upset about his movies getting ban in Pakistan Agent Vinod and now this both anti pakistani LOL. SRK is smart one he knows what movies to pick and make huge money in pakistan by his films.
why did Indian ban our movie WAAR?
@Usman welld one on that.
@Tariq can't agree more. Majority of bollywood movies are sheer waste of resources!
By asking for a ban Hafeez has exposed himself. Everyone in Pakistan will see the movie now since he has made it so popular.
Kabir Khan desperately wants to neutralize his mistake which he committed in Bajrangi Bhaijan by showing positive side of Pakistan. Bollywood is all business.
I will watch a pirated copy of this movie
Very happy to say the Pakistani readers have taken a corrcet decision albeit for the wrong reasons.
he will come out from hole eventually
@Asif Kashmiri Who cares, let us watch Indian movies and have fun.
I encourage all my fellow Pakistanis to watch this comedy.. That way we can all have a laugh about it together.
You know we laugh at this!!
Cheap publicity stunt. As per reviews by almost all critics Phantom is going down the drain
Looks like a funny movie, will have a look when i am free.
thnks for banning it.
@jawad
No one cares about Pakistan when they are making movies in India. These statements from India filmmakers are just reactions, else no one give it a ...
What is your peanut size economy going to offer them?
@jawad : Do you know what is the percentge of Pakistan in total reveenue of Shahrukh's movies?
He was silly if he thought he could hide his identity. People like to brag about actors and actresses they know. Word got around fast. Bollywood and Hollywood is all gossip, and the electronic media and TV has all that covered.
@Asif Kashmiri it was funny thats why
@sonny afridi ...... That is why pirated copies will around every corner.
What won't promoters do to promote a film................
So this film is about Hafiz Saeed ? Hilarious !!! That's all India can rant about !!
They filmmakers are just trying to create hype in market... Pathetic marketing
Overnight fame for Shahnawaz Pradhan.
Good Strategy leads to box office success.
For once i thought Hafiz Bhai is going underground, that would be crazy.
Is it available online yet ? If not what is the delay, I am dying with curiosity .
Where would we end up banning things. When the powers to be start reaizing that we are not dumb stupid. Everything's, specifically everything that they banned had been read, heard and seen by all Pakistanis for whom they banned such stuff.
Indians got it wrong, Hafiz Bhai never laughs , he is most serious man i have seen in my life.
He really looks like Hafiz Saeed :)
Pakistani love indian movies but not when they are made against Pakistan. This movie is rightly banned and I'm sure no Pakistani is interested in watching saif Ali Khan anyway.
Should have thought about it before hand dont you? Why being silly and get involved in issues with are non of your concern.
Gandhiji in his Autobiography: ".....I do not want to name that person because I do not want to make him famous....." Spread and imitate Love, not hatred/hate.
Our TV channels are not allowed. So what if we have banned anti Pakistan movie. Pakistani movie WAAR was banned in india. Tum karo tu sahi ham karai tu ghalat :)
Watched the movie at a Dubai cinema yesterday. Poor acting, poor screenplay, total waste of time and money. The audience was so bored, many people didn't return after the interval. This will go down as Kabir Khan's worst movie ever. Worse still, it comes only about a month after his best - Bajrangi. What was he thinking??
ohhh...
Indian movies are played in theaters @Pak ??? .... i don't see any PAK movies here in Indian theaters... (but there are lots on actors these days ... now i understand the reason .... MONEY ) .... i hv watched only one Pak move "Khuda ke liye" last month on youtude ...(youtube is also banned there ?? ) ... and it was good ...
A movie can be made on the drama during the movie distribution. All marketing gimmick. Hafeez appears a very sensitive person: lol
The actor is very much roaming around and giving interviews to the local media in his home town.
Phantom movie reviews so far: "Kabir Khan's 'thriller' with Saif Ali Khan, Katrina Kaif is plain boring" - FirstPost
"considering just how much of a bore Phantom is, for once the Pakistani courts may just have done our neighbours a favour" - FirstPost
"Lazy screenplay, inconsistent" - Mid-day
Going by the reviews of the movie, are you sure the gentleman is hiding because of the "security threat"?
I read a lot about poor Pakistan. I shocked to read that this poor country revolve around only 3 makers and even they don't have ABS, EBD etc. Even you fellow have to wait for Mehran, which has been obsolete in India years back(by name Maruti 800). You people buy that car in whopping 4 Lac Rupees...:):)
http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21650570-absurdly-protected-industry-flop-gear
@Sage . Don't think about the size !! Some time small peanut can Create havoc if stuck at the wrong place . So chill and let's talk about movie only forget about the country .
@Rao, You don't get the point, with pirated copies the film maker does NOT make money. Got it.
Its been declared as a big time flop anyway by the Indian film critics. Its a publicity stunt by the Director / Producer to put some life back in to the revenues after the critics tore it apart. Grow up Bollywood :))
@sonny afridi, You may know the facts as movies are supposed to dramatize and the facts are overblown close falsehood. Remember movies are for entertainment.
And judging by the comments here, the trick is working. producer / Director are creating this furore to gain publicity and stimulate curiosity among viewers. The film is dubbed a big time flop by the Indian film critics
Another drama by Indians to hype the movie
@Imama . well, I second you!
@Indian Pakistan being a smaller country than your states UP, bihar,west bengal or rajsthan still generates more revenue than this states indvidually
LOL! Actors in hiding! What a wonderful propaganda tool used by the makers of the movie. This movie must be funded by RAW.
Saif Khan trying to compete with other 3 Khans, hoping one of his movies may earn 1 crore at least.
it would be flop movie.
Shame on all those who want to see this movie. India want to mislead world other countries through such Propaganda. Hafiz Saeed is definitely a true freedom fighter for Kashmiri people.
Is it a comedy movie isn't it....?
@Rao a ban does not mean it is illegal to watch. Just it cannot be commercially screened. Do the movie cannot make any legal money in pak.
Watch pirated CDs. But don't pay for supporting their films
This seems like a publicity stunt. Unfortunately all news is good news and this will create more hype for the movie.
Considering how many flop films had Saif featuring as a hero, the producers seem to have decided not to invest vigorously and do cheap advertisement by making their actors involve in cheap publicity stunts to draw attention to this film. We reproved it before, we'd say the same.
This is literally movie trying to gain publicity that's all.....
I watched it last night and found it to a really funny movie. A must say the Indians are a pretty frustrated lot, all they can do is just fantasise.
Too afraid to stand up for what he believes in ?
I think saif ali khan has lost his sense instead of faith in PAKISTAN.
@jawad Movie making is not only about money making but also story telling.
publicity stunt by Indians in a cheap Indian way
Never watched a propaganda movie and never will......
How much did Indian film industry pay 'Hafiz' Saeed to generate this propaganda to make the film a box office hit?
I say Ban all Indian Movies. They do not let our Cricketers to play just because they do not want the Pakistani cricketers to make money. Why must we let them make money. No way Ban all there movies. I like there movies but will buy Pirated CDs and watch. Tit for Tat. Time has come. What they Sow Shall they Reap.
Phantom the curse
@Pak Khan
Its 100 crore +
Who really cares if Saif Ali khan has lost faith in Pakistan
This has become still. First the high court ban (totally uncalled for), then the Said Ali Khan statement (immature) and then the Pakistani reaction like Qureshi (bizarre).
Half of Pautodi family moved to Pakistan in 1947 and I am sure his relatives in here has lost faith in him.
huge publicity.... FQ's 'patriotic' input was big help too.
@Rao, No one will watch it in Pakistan. it doesn't matter if they are ban or not. This kind of movies create hate.
Saw the movie "Phantom" today. Good movie... nothing much exaggerated. Story is the dream of every indian. Sad that pakistan is not realizing that snake will always be snake, and by the time pakistan realizes that, it would become very late, i fear....
With such colourful & very vocal side-shows aiding the promo of this movie, it will really do well with the overseas Indians & Pakistanies, the major market for Bollywood movies.
@Rao May be thats why they are banning! Think who could be behind the pirating the CDs? Also note that CD piracy is a source of terror financing.
Bollywood is nowadays a propaganda tool of RAW.
Author, director, actors named in this article are all Muslims. There is something for Pakistan to learn here. You cannot manipulate Indian Muslims using religion. They are Indians first.
How funny it is that entire Pakistan is in hue and cry; over a Bollywood movie which is produced to entertain people and to earn the money.
Good that its ban...
Who cares
Self-serving People like Hafiz Saeed have lost credibility.
Although I avoid Indian movies, I will Definitely watch this one.
@POINT TO BE NOTED : One of the best comments I have read here in last few years!
Wonder if this all a lowly, desperate PR stunt ...
One man's trash is another's treasure lol .. so for most loyal Pakistanis including yours truly - Phantom = trash - NOT treasure ; )
It is promotion in fact to get attention from media.
Publicity stunts for a flop movie!
Phantom is fast & surreal but mediocre...SAK is good for Race 2 likes. Why the rant?
All stunt for publicity
The movie flopped in India.
this is why i dont watch Indian movies anymore .. I used to watch a lot but then moved on to English movies and we have lost faith in you saif
Its fun to watch this movie as they had done with our pigeon...
@Rao those pirated DVDs will be made by Indians BTW in case you don't know... I have faith in India that its citizens will continue to do what they do best i.e. chori or copy.
This promo policy has surely boosted the success of Phantom in the Box Office. May also be a record earning film in Indian film industry.
Indians know that it a publicity stunt and by that maximum people will watch this movie even from pakistan . Even though it may be (because i havent seen this movie) anti pakistan movie , pakistanis will buy pirated CDs and make indian pirated business people wealthy . What a stupidy , rather pakistan should give permission to release this movie and let lots of pakistanis earn some money .
Folks breaking news! It's only a movie. Just had lunch with Indian friends in San Jose, no one cares. Relax everyone we will all get over it.
Hi Fellow Pakistanis , its a win win situation we always watch indian movies for free and if we don't like it we call it stupid and everyone else in it just fantastic but we pay and support our movies and pay for it to watch just great.Guys keep doing it.
LONG LIVE PAKISTAN
what India can do is they can make films that's it
@sunil that's what I thsught and believe. It is promotion of the film.