Movie on Imran Khan: Kaptaan’s wheel in motion

Is the film hoping to cash in on the recent increase in popularity of Imran Khan?

The much-awaited Kaptaan — a film based on the life arc of Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan is slated to release nationwide by the end of February, according to the film’s PR and communication agent Amar Tareen. The film, which has gone through countless delays due to production issues, has finally reached the post-production stage, according to industry insiders.

Tareen also informed The Express Tribune that the team of Kaptaan is working on the remaining 10 per cent of the film, with final shots being taken in Islamabad, Mianwali and Lahore.

“Our intention is to release the film first in the major cinemas of Pakistan and then move on to distribution options on a global level,” said Tareen. The PR agent explained that local distributors and channels have shown keen interest in distributing the film, but the unexpected delays in production are stopping them from making any commitments yet.

When asked whether the time of release was cleverly kept in sync with Khan’s popular peace rally, Tareen stated that the release is entirely dependent on the production schedule and has nothing to do with the former cricketer’s recent popularity. “People were saying that we should release later as it would coincide with the elections but we are still going according to the plan. The film is a tribute to a personality that is defined by his leadership and charisma and should not be taken as a political venture,” Tareen added. “The film is not funded by external and/or political parties and is in fact a private project with a nominal budget.”

According to Tareen, major additions had been made to the cast including the inclusion of former PTV host Saman Ansari, who is making a comeback to screen after a long time. He said she would have a major role in the film and would provide an added boost to the cast.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2012.