Pakistan ban won’t affect film revenues: Saif
Actor-producer Saif Ali Khan isn’t perturbed over Pakistan banning Agent Vinod, saying that very little revenue would be lost by the restriction imposed on his production, which released all over the world yesterday. “We have lost some revenue, just around INR10 million,” Khan told IANS.
However, the actor does reiterate the fact that the film was always supposed to bridge the gap between the two countries instead of widening it. “Agent Vinod presents a particular view of Pakistan and that’s exactly the view that I too happen to share personally”, says Khan. “Yes, so on paper, Pakistan is our enemy. However, in their culture too there are people who are good and don’t want war with India. On the other hand, both India and Pakistan have certain villains who represent the ugly side of the two countries. Our film shows this fight against bad elements; that’s about it. I hope that globally people watch this film in huge numbers and see the real truth.”
Talking about characterisation of Pakistanis in Agent Vinod, Khan states: “We have shown the Pakistani Army involved with the Taliban and Afghanistan. We have shown them assassinating their own ISI chief. We have shown them encouraging terrorist activities in India. If you feel this is unreasonable or not true, then it is fair enough.”
Directed by Sriram Raghavan, Agent Vinod has Khan in the title role and Kareena Kapoor as the female lead. According to indianexpress.com, Kapoor is playing a Pakistani character in the film. “Kareena plays a good Pakistani and since she is the film’s leading lady, this by itself should quash the rumours that the country is shown in bad light,” reveals a source.
About his own role, Khan says, “I play the role of Indian Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Agent. Agent Vinod’s partner in the film has joined hands with the Russian mafia and he passes them all information but he is caught and killed. However, he leaves a clue behind before he dies.” The actor also added that Agent Vinod has been his most demanding role so far and with all the physical bumps and bruises and mental trauma he went through, Khan hopes it will all pay off in the form of box office success.
(With additional information from hindustantimes.com)
Published in The Express Tribune, March 24th, 2012.
COMMENTS (24)
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Thanks for the article. Will never watch Saif Khan film again. . If there are villains on both side, Saif must be the ugly side of India!!
Indian Muslim, Arjun:
These are not my perceptions, these are the findings of the Sachar Commission to the Indian government. Indian Muslims are the new untouchables in India. Indian Muslims are the most backward, impoverished; underrepresented religious group in India, in all fields of life (besides going to jail). Uttar Pradesh, where the majority of the Indian Muslim population resides, is known for its "Muslim ghettos & slums". The interesting fact is, even though Indian Muslims have higher education levels than Pakistani Muslims, they are the most backward, impoverished religious group in India, their condition is even worse than that of Dalits, forget about Pakistani Muslims.
Saif wanted to verify and prove his loyalty to the hindu community there by producing this movie.
In India,one big problem facing the Muslims is that they have to prove and prove again their loyalty.Actors and producers are no exception.
Good job Pakistan censor board. The Pakistani nation supports you.
Any bollywood film castigating Pakistan in any way or demonizing its institution MUST not be allowed to be shown in the Pakistani cinemas.Any attempt for it to be imported be thwarted and distributors must be warned or they will be blacklisted.
Saif better mind his own business and continue being apologetic towards the hindu community. In India the more you abuse Pakistan,the more patriotic you are.Thats how things work out there for the musim community.
Arjun, Indian Muslim:
As a Pakistani Bihari, with my mother born & raised in India (before surrendering her citizenship when she married my Dad), with my whole mother's side in India, & having visited it many times, I have much more knowledge about India than you think.
What I said in my post were the findings of the Sachar Commission Report, it is a fact that the Indian Muslims have become the new untouchables in India, as they are more impoverished & backward than Dalits. Muslims are the worst represented community in India in all fields of life, if you want, I can quote you the findings of the report (but as ignorance is bliss for Bharatis, you are free to live in your delusions). Uttar Pradesh, where majority of Indian Muslims reside in, has become a "ghetto state", full of "Muslim slums and ghettos".
The interesting fact is, Indian Muslims, while having lower education levels than other religious groups in India; have higher educational levels than Pakistani Muslims, yet they fare worse than even Dalits in India, forget Pakistani Muslims.
As i said yesterday... cut him some slack guys... he's just trying to save himself from the carnage of another gujrat riots that may happen anytime... let him save his life at our expense... we can do charity...
hahaha... what a joke this SAK is... there are good and bad elements in both India and Pakistan... but in the film only the bad elements of Pakistan are shown not the Indian elements... it's funny how these Indian film makers bash pakistan and at the same time have the brain to say that the film is not anti pakistan.... lmao...
@Adeel Ahmed: oh really ! lol wht abt hindus in pakistan who r not allowed to go near mosques, forcibly coverted to muslims, treated like dogs, have to drink water in a separate glass, shia community being treated like untouchables and being called non -muslims !! their brand of soft drinks, clothes etc. are not allowed to be sold freely in pak because they are non muslim according to u guys... , balochistani ppl whose telephone lines were cut during pakistan day !! despite being pakistanis as well.. to make matters worse they were the only place in pak to suffer this discrimination... we atlst have reasonable number of rich muslims, our film industry our ruled by muslims, asim premji (google him) is one of the top 10-20 richest persons in te whole of ind ...give me any hindu or christian pakistani who is atleast a millionaire or billionaire-- answer non !! by the way all these info which i just told u about..u knw i read it from yr own newspapers express tribune pakistan, the news Pakistan and dawn news !!
@Syed Haider: Ya keep yourself happy by those comments....does it atleast Pakistan to get better....
he's catering to a far larger audience, why should he care about what Pakistani's think or care about
remove the ban, i want to see the movie
@lollwood:
True! That's why you instead of visiting and writing comment on an Indian news site, you visited this Pakistani website. Long live Pakistan!!
no wonder, pakistan is a failed state
Unfortunately, a Muslim in India needs to abuse Pakistan much more loudly than a non-Muslim, to show his allegiance to Hindustan...
sad.
Indians have a choice to make any movies. We all watch them. Is Pakistan is involved in kashmir yes Is India involved in baluchistan yes.
pakistan can make a movie about Indian involvement in baluchistan and we will call it even.
I personally dont trust ISI killer of journalists and the ARMY but they are better than the politicians for sure.
"On the other hand, both India and Pakistan have certain villains who represent the ugly side of the two countries. Our film shows this fight against bad elements; that’s about it. I hope that globally people watch this film in huge numbers and see the real truth."
So as per film, fight is against bad element in Pakistan not in India since India is perfect and does not have bad element
@Zeta: @Eventers: As Saif said in the headlines, you guys not watching the movie is not going to impact at all to the movie revenue. So seriously why the hoo laa? @Syed Haider: Seriously ? Only people of Pakistan seems to believe that. But again , since you are a Pakistani I don;t expect any basic capability for truth gathering. For you anything bad about India is the truth even though it is all lies and fabricated stories. By the way I am muslim living in a pedar road which is not a "gheto" area.
" Yes, so on paper, Pakistan is our enemy." and "in their culture too there are people who are good and don’t want war with India. "
Duh ! I did not know Saif A. Khan was so ignorant.
saif ali khan has sold his soul to the illuminati and freemasons. his record studio is called illuminati? why? he has become part of the new world order. Pakistan is being victimised on the world stage from all angles; media, sport, militarily - their aim is to humiliate pakistan at all costs. think carefully about saifs rise to become a successful actor. Pakistan zindabad (from an Indian born Muslim)...
Indian Muslims are the most backward, impoverished religious group in India, even more than Dalits. It's sad that Indian Muslims are time & time again accused of being as Pakistani sympathizers/spies in India, of having their loyalties towards Pakistan; & Saif Khan's belligerent comments show that even he is a victim to that mentality on that on some level. Even high profile Muslim Bollywood actors can't get houses in decent neighborhoods in Mumbai, & rest of the places where the Muslims reside in are referred to as "Muslim ghettos" in India.
Right Decision by Censor Board . ! ! !
Good enough reason to ban the movie. Good Job Censor Board