Taking a pragmatic approach to a film’s content, Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan says his film Phantom is not anti-Pakistan and adds that no film can ever “add” to any political tensions between two nations.
Helmed by Kabir Khan, whose last release Bajrangi Bhaijaaan was well-received by people in Pakistan, Phantom has been banned in Pakistan after the 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind JuD chief Hafiz Saeed filed a petition in the Lahore High Court claiming that the film content is anti-Pakistan and posed a threat to his life.
“No content of the film could add to the tension. I don’t think any movie can ever do that. We are not being jingoist. And moreover we have gone above that ‘Gadar’ phase,” Saif told thestatesman.com in an exclusive interview.
The actor also stressed the fact that today’s audience has matured and cannot be influenced so easily.
“The audiences that watch such movies are not going be one of those who could be easily swayed. And neither would Kabir Khan do that. What I am trying to say is we should have respect for the audience and the filmmakers,” the actor said.
“Both Kabir, myself or I should say three of us, including Sajid Nadiadwala, are Indian Muslims. We would never cause any kind of trouble against any religion or nation,” Saif said.
Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, Phantom is an Indian counter-terrorism drama film on the post-26/11 attacks in Mumbai and global terrorism. The film hit theatres Friday.
When asked to put some light on the plot of the film, Saif said, “The film is actually a human story and an action thriller.”
“The human element played by me, Daniyal Khan, is a man who has been thrown out of the Indian Army for being a coward. He lives in disgrace and isolation. Then he is offered this suicidal mission by RAW. He thinks it’s a chance for him to get his honour back and no one will know what he has actually done.”
In the film, Saif would be acting as an RAW agent again after Agent Vinod.
When asked how different this role is from Agent Vinod, he said, “Well, Agent Vinod was an attempt to make an entertaining, larger than life spy thriller in the genre of James Bond films. It was a fun, entertaining kind of action adventure, whereas ‘Phantom’ is a well grounded and nationalistic kind of movie.”
“Even the villains in Agent Vinod were out of the world kind of characters, or I would say a bit of a paranoid fantasy. In this case (Phantom), they are very real and it is more of a drama or I would say an action drama,” he added.
Was it cleared by the censor board without any cuts?
Saif said: “There were no cuts and the film is not on any sensitive issue.”
Talking about the effect of terror attacks on people, he said: “Except for the people who are directly affected by the attacks, do the others really care? And if some do, then I wonder how much they really do. People are worried about their next meal and how to survive in this rather difficult environment.
“I don’t know, but we have a mass national outcry against 26/11. I ask you, do you think there is any patriotic feeling where everybody would want to take up arms against what happened? Everybody is upset with the government for lack of defense and other security measures.”
The Happy Ending actor, however, refused to comment on Kabir’s statement of Pakistan political outfits backing Hafiz Saeed, saying that he doesn’t know as it’s a very complicated situation.
The film also stars Katrina Kaif in an important role. When asked if the film has a love angle to it, Saif said, “It’s a correct kind of love story. I wouldn’t call it a romantic movie, but it (romance) has got its right place.
“Katrina has played a very strong and a pivotal role in the film. She is dedicated to her work and she has done it very well.”
When asked will her role be similar to Ek Tha Tiger, the actor replied, “I think it’s a very different movie. Why would Kabir want to make the same movie twice? You have to see the film to see the difference. And there is no comparison on the content.”
Most actors often choose romantic or comedy as their favourite genre, but the Nawab of Bollywood says he loves doing action thriller like Agent Vinod and Phantom.
When asked why Phantom was chosen as the title for the film, Saif said, “The idea is that the protagonist goes on, but no credit is given to him. It’s like a phantom, which means ghost.
Nobody knows anything about him. When they look him up on the net also nobody knows that he is an agent. He is not real
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