Shaan feels that Waar accurately depicts issues that plague contemporary Pakistan. PHOTO: FILE
After facing constant criticism for his film Waar, actor Shaan Shahid has finally spoken up. In an interview with the Gulf News, the actor cleared the air about the film, saying that Pakistan, like India, has a right to patriotic films.
Snubbing critics who termed Waar as an anti-India venture, he said, “I don’t think it’s an India-bashing film. It is based on the issues that people [in Pakistan] are facing right now.” Shaan is currently in the United Arab Emirates for the international premiere of his action thriller.
Shaan plays a retired military official in Waar, directed by Bilal Lashari. He has been called to foil a terror bid strategised by a Taliban outfit funded by India. Waar is, by far, the biggest budgeted film in Pakistan. It has also become the highest-grossing film of the country, beating the 1998 box office smash hit, Choorian.
“Every person has a right to be patriotic about his country,” says Shaan, defending the subject matter of the film. “With all due respect, as far as India is concerned, they have been making films bashing Pakistan left, right and centre anytime they want to. As an actor, I feel it is okay, because they are being patriotic Indians. For once, when a Pakistani wants to be patriotic, the whole world has a problem with it.”
Shaan’s cinematic career boasts a total of 475 films, but Waar has taken his fame to another level. “If a film is made in Pakistan, we are going to give our views and we are going to say what we think is right,” he said emphatically. The actor clarifies that the ‘waar’ (strike, in Urdu) that the film is not against India, but those that cause conflict within Pakistan. “That is one problem we are facing right now. It is a proxy war and there has to be some hand behind it, and we can nominate anybody [as responsible for it].”
With the upfront criticism hurled Waar’s way, Shaan is still hopeful that the film will get a theatrical release in India. “India should play a bigger brother and support our cause of cinema,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 13th, 2013.
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COMMENTS (49)
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I don't agree with the plot of the movie but that's what many nations do in their movies including Hollywood where they portray other cultures such as Arab, Cuban, Russian and Chinese as undemocratic and barbaric.
Indians also made movies like Maa Tujhe Salaam where the tagline about Kashmir openly goes against UN resolution and status that Jammu & Kashmir is indeed a Disputed land. The Indian media even misquoted (Late) Muammar Qaddafi when they reported about his speech about J&K in United Nations (and sadly many Indians easily bought that without even consulting any other news source).
Hollywood made movies like Devil's Double in 2011 where the sole intention was to justify USA's invasion and massacre in Iraq. In that sense, I would say that Waar would be thousand times better than movies like these.
@gp65: I think you haven't watched the movies like Border, Gaddar, etc etc. Watch those out.
@ET . Why didn't you publish my previous comment regarding this article. Screening the views as per your comfort would make discussion meaningless. So please publish my previous comment.
@Pro War
Did you release Gadar in your country? If not why expect India to do the same for Waar? The Indian argument here is not against the movie but an objection against the wish of the actor to release the movie in India with its Anti Indian narrative. In one breath he says “Every person has a right to be patriotic about his country,” and justifies his narrative. Fair enough, no one can deny him or any other person this right. So by the same logic don't expect India to release a movie that is against her. Why talk about “India should play a bigger brother and support our cause of cinema,”? There have been other movies that have released in India. Even if the government goes ahead and clears the movie, do you think there will be many takers to distribute the movie in India? Do you think there will be an audience to watch the movie? I fail to understand why the actor is so keen in getting the movie released in India when it makes absolutely no economical sense.
As for commenting here, why not? Its called healthy discussion. When you talk about India you are bound to get the Indian side of the story. If you read articles across the world, you will see that every time there is an article on India, there will be comments by Indians, for and against. Pakistan is no exception. Being Argumentative is in our blood or haven't you heard the term "Argumentative Indian"!
The trouble with Pakistan is that it is full of these so called pseudo liberal self hating bloggers. Self loathing Pakistani English speaking elites love anyone or any thing foreign, whether Indian, American or Mongolian.
All the Indian readers, stick to your own newspapers if you feel the need to criticize. You've got a lot happening in your own country and film industry. Times of India would definitely do you some good. Your producers make movies like Gaddar and you have the nerve to criticize a Pakistani movie for being anti-India. Pakistan and India can never be Pro-each other!!!
There should be clear distinction between Patriotism and Propaganda.
@chengez K:
So? A lot of people have horrible taste in movies, and it's okay - whatever keeps you entertained
Can't wait to see it! Well-done, Shaan!
Shaan you have proved your loyalty to this country in this difficult time, trust me most if not all loyal Pakistanis appreciate and support you for such great films that show the real troubles our country face. Please keep going & do not listen to the haters, i do not generally watch any movies but waar i can not miss and there many like me.
Kind suggestion: next time keep it pure urdu, will be even better & subtitles for non urdu speakers.
@S: Your being speechless music to many ears!
Let the Cyber HINDUS hate, who cares what they think! Shaaan you are a loyal son & gem of this country, Keep on making such great films we all Pakistanis will support you wholeheartedly with pride
I cannot wait for a North American release of this movie. Propaganda or not, it has threaten Indian movies because of well spoken English Speaking dialogs by a Pakistan cinema actor. It threatens Indian cinema of losing out on Pakistan actor to make their propaganda movie of their choice. It is also a movie with some great special effect which threaten Indian Special effect technician losing out to Dubai based Pakistani Technician. Well done All artists to portrait what Pakistanis are facing every day. It does not matter who is responsible but all these attacks are unpatriotic. These attacks are tearing up Pakistani Society and who is our closet adversary ( India ) that benefits from breakup of Pakistan. May Allah bless our union of all four provinces, FATA, PATA and Northern Areas, Ameen.
Good Man Shaan! they had been vilifying us for a long time, finally you sent a response across the border in the form of 'waar'. its surely going to be painful to them and their unpatriotic liberal supporters.
Shaan is a great Pakistani patriot. We salute you for your commitment and honor to the common Pakistani. Our art, movies, music, and poetry is the property of each and every Pakistani and no one has a right to criticize us for that (esp cyber Hindus who hate us for our nationality, culture, and religion). Find a new hobby. We won't change for anyone.
Only idiots and indians will criticize Shaan lol.
@Manju: who wants u to watch the film anyway....go see rajnikants 'Robot'!
GO SHAAN! Go Pakistani cinema, this could be our breakthrough! let the haters hate. Thats all they do best.
@harsh, do you even know what lahore high court ban is? it is on the illegally sourced movies. some people just leave me speechless
Shaan is one of the most versatile but under-rated and under-utilized actors of Pakistani film. It has been a pleasure watching him act in movies like Khuda Ke Liye and Waar. Wish to see more of him in quality films.
As far as Waar is concerned, it is so far the only film I have gone to see in the cinema thrice, each time with a bigger group of friends and family. That it is still on display after more than a month of release is testament to its success, as is its IMDB rating.
Looking forward to Waar 2.
I like the man for he is a patriotic person and not ashamed of it like many of our pseudos in media
@bishkek: This is a fairly recent development. http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2013/11/19/city/lahore/lhc-bans-the-display-of-illegal-indian-films-in-pakistan/ based on a petition by Mubashir Luqman who works for ARY the same group that has made this movie.
In any case movies perceived to be anti Pakistan have always been banned. That is perfectly okay but you should not expect double standards when it suits you.
CIA, RAW, MOSSAD and BCCI are responsible.
He has been called to foil a terror bid strategised by a Taliban outfit funded by India. I would watch this film only and only if the producer and actor promise me that the remaining part of the plot also includes RAW, CIA and the MOSSAD... Please, tell me this is the case because then if i don't enjoy the plot as a reality based story, at-least it will tickle my bones of humor the way i enjoyed it when someone said - "Pakistan will be on Moon in 5 years - Insha-allah!"....
Astonishing how far people going to hate only against a Film!
I don't understand the logic sir.
when you depict Indians as Taliban and then when your country calls their leaders as martyrs, doesn't it boggle your mind that there is a major flaw in your narrative?
Also if India is sponsoring Taliban, then why don't you attack and eliminate them?
Something is amiss here.
And someone here claims that Waar is a propaganda film. To me it sounds more like an illogical film than a propaganda film.
Salute to thee. Always respected.
May Allah bless you and your endeavors.
Bet did not pass the censor-board of Taliban/PTI et al.How can "MARTYRS" be Indian agents?No wonder that TTP is against cinema.
It is no patriotism , in my view , to re-inforce the wide-spread delusion that the violence devastating our country is sponsored by external forces .This nurtures a paranoic mindset which has robbed us of our ability to see things objectively . It deprives us of the capacity for critical self-examination and disconnects us with realities . The people who idealise militants and militant wordview are not hiding in foreign lands or inaccessible jungles or caves ; they are strutting around in our parliaments , our universities and our bar rooms . A genuine act of patriotism would making movies to reach their minds and to cure them of their self-destructive pathological mind-set
Shaan..u dont worry about haters....make Waar 2...we are waiting for its release next year....
I want to see this movie. Anyone know when it will be available in North America?
Flop movie.. its not urdu.. its english movie with weak script and picturization
Salute to Shaan for this amazing film & showing his loyalty to Pakistan & now this great response to critics Salute! Proud of you my brother
You targeted India when even Pakistan's allies are making movies & video games 'bashing' Pakistan's support for terrorism. He says India's making films bashing Pakistan left, right and center ; they he makes a movie doing the same then begs India to play big brother. Make up your mind dude.
First revoke Lahore high cout's ban on indian films then expect something, quid pro quo
Just like Pakistan has a right to use Non-State actors in Afghanistan and India to kill innocent people. There may be many Pakistanis who may not be able to separate reality from the truth in the movie.
Come on guys lets not get too over the top about Shaan he was lucky to land WAAR he may have acted in 475 films a lot of them were pure crap bad acting vulgarity that nearly sunk Lollywood he himself in spite of profiteering from the trashy films did nothing to encourage film institutes to train technicians, screenwriters, sound technicians or anyone in the media business, he was a prima Donna when he did Khuda ke Liya if he was really talented & creative he would have not accepted all those movie roles he has luckily fallen on the crest of success thanks to the new genre of film makers who fought the Lollywood sleazy mafia to make thought provoking films & lift the image of Pakistan cinema & Shaan contributed nada for that!
In my 46 years of life I have never gone to cinema to see a movie twice
WAAR I have gone to see 03 times.....
WAAR has turned out to be Pakistan's greatest General in this War on Terror' which has been leashed on poor Pakistanis.
Nexus of foreign powers shown in WAAR seemed to have touched so many raw nerves both within & far beyond boundaries of Pakistan.
Shaan has indeed done his Duty as a true son of Pakistan.
Shaan you always make us proud.
One Fine Gentleman
A man to admire! Lone ranger in the Pakistan film industry at the time of struggle! Salute!!!
Well said.
C'mon haters... this guy acted in a film called "Moosa Khan" which had me in splits at the unintentional comedy.....
I hope Waar isnt that funny and stereotypical as Moosa Khan