Actor portraying Hafiz Saeed in Phantom goes underground
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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.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (107) Closed
Aug 28, 2015 01:46pm
Actor hides while non state actor roams freely.
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Aug 28, 2015 01:49pm
Why ban....Next day pirated CDs will be available in the market....
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Aug 28, 2015 01:49pm
I will definitely watch this movie, will be funny .
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Aug 28, 2015 01:50pm
This movie has evoked my curiosity , I will see the movie to understand what the fuss is all about.
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Aug 28, 2015 01:50pm
Should be fun to watch .
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Aug 28, 2015 01:54pm
its all publicity stunt., which is very usual in indian film industry., create controversy and amass the wealth.
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Aug 28, 2015 01:56pm
This is a mere propaganda movie. The Alleged security reason seems cheap publicity stunt.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:02pm
@Rao ...why pay to watch anti pakistani movies when free pirated copies are available. common sense!!
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Aug 28, 2015 02:03pm
"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....
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Aug 28, 2015 02:03pm
I will watch!!
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Aug 28, 2015 02:04pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:04pm
why did Indian ban our movie WAAR?
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Aug 28, 2015 02:05pm
@Usman welld one on that.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:05pm
@Tariq can't agree more. Majority of bollywood movies are sheer waste of resources!
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Aug 28, 2015 02:05pm
By asking for a ban Hafeez has exposed himself. Everyone in Pakistan will see the movie now since he has made it so popular.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:05pm
Kabir Khan desperately wants to neutralize his mistake which he committed in Bajrangi Bhaijan by showing positive side of Pakistan. Bollywood is all business.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:06pm
I will watch a pirated copy of this movie
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Aug 28, 2015 02:06pm
Very happy to say the Pakistani readers have taken a corrcet decision albeit for the wrong reasons.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:06pm
he will come out from hole eventually
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Aug 28, 2015 02:08pm
@Asif Kashmiri Who cares, let us watch Indian movies and have fun.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:08pm
I encourage all my fellow Pakistanis to watch this comedy.. That way we can all have a laugh about it together.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:08pm
You know we laugh at this!!
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Aug 28, 2015 02:13pm
Cheap publicity stunt. As per reviews by almost all critics Phantom is going down the drain
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Aug 28, 2015 02:13pm
Looks like a funny movie, will have a look when i am free.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:14pm
thnks for banning it.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:14pm
@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?
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Aug 28, 2015 02:14pm
@jawad : Do you know what is the percentge of Pakistan in total reveenue of Shahrukh's movies?
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Aug 28, 2015 02:17pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:17pm
@Asif Kashmiri it was funny thats why
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Aug 28, 2015 02:19pm
@sonny afridi ...... That is why pirated copies will around every corner.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:24pm
What won't promoters do to promote a film................
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Aug 28, 2015 02:26pm
So this film is about Hafiz Saeed ? Hilarious !!! That's all India can rant about !!
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Aug 28, 2015 02:31pm
They filmmakers are just trying to create hype in market... Pathetic marketing
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Aug 28, 2015 02:31pm
Overnight fame for Shahnawaz Pradhan.
Good Strategy leads to box office success.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:36pm
For once i thought Hafiz Bhai is going underground, that would be crazy.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:43pm
Is it available online yet ? If not what is the delay, I am dying with curiosity .
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Aug 28, 2015 02:49pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 02:59pm
Indians got it wrong, Hafiz Bhai never laughs , he is most serious man i have seen in my life.
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Aug 28, 2015 03:03pm
He really looks like Hafiz Saeed :)
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Aug 28, 2015 03:04pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 03:04pm
Should have thought about it before hand dont you? Why being silly and get involved in issues with are non of your concern.
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Aug 28, 2015 03:10pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 03:14pm
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 :)
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Aug 28, 2015 03:20pm
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??
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Aug 28, 2015 03:26pm
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 ...
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Aug 28, 2015 03:27pm
A movie can be made on the drama during the movie distribution. All marketing gimmick. Hafeez appears a very sensitive person: lol
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Aug 28, 2015 03:39pm
The actor is very much roaming around and giving interviews to the local media in his home town.
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Aug 28, 2015 03:41pm
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"?
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Aug 28, 2015 03:46pm
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
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Aug 28, 2015 03:57pm
@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 .
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Aug 28, 2015 04:06pm
@Rao, You don't get the point, with pirated copies the film maker does NOT make money. Got it.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:07pm
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 :))
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Aug 28, 2015 04:09pm
@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.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:09pm
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
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Aug 28, 2015 04:15pm
Another drama by Indians to hype the movie
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Aug 28, 2015 04:18pm
@Imama . well, I second you!
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Aug 28, 2015 04:19pm
@Indian Pakistan being a smaller country than your states UP, bihar,west bengal or rajsthan still generates more revenue than this states indvidually
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Aug 28, 2015 04:24pm
LOL! Actors in hiding! What a wonderful propaganda tool used by the makers of the movie. This movie must be funded by RAW.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:27pm
Saif Khan trying to compete with other 3 Khans, hoping one of his movies may earn 1 crore at least.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:39pm
it would be flop movie.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:39pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:41pm
Is it a comedy movie isn't it....?
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Aug 28, 2015 04:42pm
@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.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:43pm
Watch pirated CDs. But don't pay for supporting their films
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Aug 28, 2015 04:49pm
This seems like a publicity stunt. Unfortunately all news is good news and this will create more hype for the movie.
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Aug 28, 2015 04:51pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 05:00pm
This is literally movie trying to gain publicity that's all.....
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Aug 28, 2015 05:01pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 05:01pm
Too afraid to stand up for what he believes in ?
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Aug 28, 2015 05:46pm
I think saif ali khan has lost his sense instead of faith in PAKISTAN.
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Aug 28, 2015 06:37pm
@jawad Movie making is not only about money making but also story telling.
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Aug 28, 2015 06:45pm
publicity stunt by Indians in a cheap Indian way
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Aug 28, 2015 06:45pm
Never watched a propaganda movie and never will......
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Aug 28, 2015 07:13pm
How much did Indian film industry pay 'Hafiz' Saeed to generate this propaganda to make the film a box office hit?
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Aug 28, 2015 07:33pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 07:34pm
Phantom the curse
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Aug 28, 2015 07:35pm
@Pak Khan
Its 100 crore +
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Aug 28, 2015 07:59pm
Who really cares if Saif Ali khan has lost faith in Pakistan
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Aug 28, 2015 08:32pm
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).
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Aug 28, 2015 08:58pm
Half of Pautodi family moved to Pakistan in 1947 and I am sure his relatives in here has lost faith in him.
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Aug 28, 2015 09:27pm
huge publicity.... FQ's 'patriotic' input was big help too.
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Aug 28, 2015 09:41pm
@Rao, No one will watch it in Pakistan. it doesn't matter if they are ban or not. This kind of movies create hate.
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Aug 28, 2015 10:03pm
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....
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Aug 28, 2015 10:21pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 10:35pm
@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.
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Aug 28, 2015 10:55pm
Bollywood is nowadays a propaganda tool of RAW.
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Aug 28, 2015 10:55pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 11:34pm
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.
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Aug 28, 2015 11:51pm
Good that its ban...
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Aug 28, 2015 11:56pm
Who cares
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Aug 29, 2015 12:46am
Self-serving People like Hafiz Saeed have lost credibility.
Although I avoid Indian movies, I will Definitely watch this one.
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Aug 29, 2015 01:51am
@POINT TO BE NOTED : One of the best comments I have read here in last few years!
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Aug 29, 2015 03:32am
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 ; )
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Aug 29, 2015 04:26am
It is promotion in fact to get attention from media.
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Aug 29, 2015 04:49am
Publicity stunts for a flop movie!
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Aug 29, 2015 06:41am
Phantom is fast & surreal but mediocre...SAK is good for Race 2 likes. Why the rant?
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Aug 29, 2015 06:49am
All stunt for publicity
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Aug 29, 2015 08:52am
The movie flopped in India.
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Aug 29, 2015 10:31am
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
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Aug 29, 2015 11:01am
Its fun to watch this movie as they had done with our pigeon...
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Aug 29, 2015 03:25pm
@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.
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Aug 29, 2015 11:12pm
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.
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Aug 30, 2015 02:52am
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 .
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Aug 30, 2015 07:58am
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.
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Aug 30, 2015 09:07am
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
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Aug 30, 2015 11:40am
what India can do is they can make films that's it
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Aug 31, 2015 04:27am
@sunil that's what I thsught and believe. It is promotion of the film.
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