Spielberg offered to make film on my life: Ali Haider Gilani

Hollywood director has not publicly acknowledged the offer

Ali Haider Gilani has been approached by Steven Spielberg of Jurassic Park fame to make a film on his years of captivity, Express News reported. According to reports, Spielberg telephoned the recently freed son of former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, to congratulate him on his return and expressed his desire to make a film based on his recent experience and ‘miraculous’ release.

“I would like to make a film on the three years you spent in captivity and all that you experienced during that time,” Spielberg was quoted as telling Haider. According to sources, Haider has not yet responded to Spielberg’s offer as yet. Neither has the director confirmed the offer publicly.

Addressing the media on Thursday, Haider refused to share any details about his time in the custody of militants, and said it was a long story which he would tell some other time. He added he also did not have plans to write a book at least for now.

However, his father informed the media that while Haider was away from home, he did start taking notes to write a book but the manuscript was burnt by militants.

Haider was kidnapped by militants in the outskirts of Multan on May 9, 2013, just two days before a bitterly contested national election in which he was campaigning. He was rescued during a counter-terror raid by US and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday.

Haider’s recovery came two months after the kidnapped son of slain Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer was also freed. Shahbaz Taseer spent five years in militant captivity before his abrupt release in March.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2016.

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