Limited supplies, no flights: Pakistani celebs stranded in Thailand plead for help

Mohib Mirza, Sanam Saeed, Shamoon Abbasi are waiting for the government of Pakistan to rescue them from the forest

KARACHI: The shoot for Muhib Mirza’s debut directorial Ishrat Made In China had kicked off in Thailand before COVID-19 took a serious turn around the world.

Half the cast of the film returned to Pakistan after completing their 15-days schedule but the remaining half is still stuck in Thailand with no way of returning home.

One of the film’s leading cast members Shamoon Abbasi told The Express Tribune that the team is waiting patiently for Pakistan to open its air space. “But just two days ago, PIA revealed the list of countries’ flights that will be allowed and Thailand wasn’t one of them,” he said. "Not to mention, Thailand is also expected to close its air space soon. And if that happens before PIA resumes its flights, then we are doomed.”

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Other leading cast members of the upcoming film include Sanam Saeed, Sara Loren, Hassan Shehryar Yasin (HSY), Mani, Mustafa Choudhary, Ali Kazmi, and Imam Said.

According to Choudhary, the cast started reaching Thailand in groups as per their shooting requirements. “Me, Mani, Ali Kazmi and HSY went early and returned to Karachi on March 18 after a 15-day shoot. Thankfully, we didn’t have symptoms but we started quarantining. As for those who were still there, the shoot wrapped up on March 25 but the air spaces had closed by then.”



Mirza also uploaded a video wherein he said, “Ever since we wrapped the film, we have been waiting for when we’ll be allowed to go back. We are waiting for some kind of special flight and I’d like to make an appeal to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help us get back home.”

The stranded cast members are currently staying in a hotel in Kanchanaburi, which is a tourist destination covered with forests, three to four hours away from Bangkok. According to Abbasi, there are zero cases of coronavirus there.

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“However, what are limited are the resources, given the production team did not expect to stay here for many days. There are 21 people here, including the crew and regardless of what the situation in Pakistan is, everyone needs to get back home.”

Both Abbasi and Mirza clarified they would take all necessary steps to quarantine themselves once they arrive back home but that can only happen if they are able to leave. The former went on to add that the entire team is sticking together like a rock but the uncertainty is killing everyone inside.

“We thought we’d return by April 4 but if we knew this would happen, we would’ve started making noise sooner,” he shared.

As far as coping is concerned, Abbasi noted that he and Mirza are panicking, trying to get in touch with people who could get them home. As for the two leading ladies of the film, Abbasi said, “They are strong women. Sara herself has travelled a lot and Sanam is very concerned. They know they are surrounded by responsible people so they aren’t panicking.”

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Abbasi revealed that the team’s comic relief had left when Choudry, Mani, HSY, and Kazmi went back. “Everybody’s just been counselling each other these days. We play some music and crack a few jokes but everyone is scared deep inside. Even television is useless here because all the channels are in languages we don’t understand.”

Mani, on the other hand, said that his co-stars had a feeling that something serious was about to go down. “We packed up and left as soon as our shoots were done,” Mani confessed. “This was, in fact, my fourth film shoot this year. So thank God we got done early because we are worried about these guys now. They have limited resources and no family there.”

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Nevertheless, while remaining actors kept their lips sealed about the film, Mani revealed that the film was a comedy and his role, quite comedic. "Money Back Guarantee onward, majority of the films being made for 2020 are comedic," he said.

But real life has clearly turned into a horror story and all anyone can hope for is this Black Mirror episode to end. Not just for the cast and crew stranded in Thailand but for everyone else around the world.

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