Abbasi claims saying no to ‘Baby’
Actor reportedly declined a role in the Mikaal Zulfiqar-starrer Bollywood film due to its ‘anti-Pakistan’ tilt.
Abbasi took to his Facebook page to share his take on the film: PHOTOS: FILE
Actor Hamza Ali Abbasi said on Monday that he was offered a role in the Bollywood film Baby last year, which he did not accept due to the movie’s anti-Pakistan slant. He said that he is in favour of Pakistani artistes working in Indian films in general, but not in a film that has an anti-Pakistan theme.
Abbasi took to his official Facebook page and posted, “I was offered this Indian film Baby last year and I immediately said no to it seeing a slight anti-Pakistan element in its storyline.” The post further read, “I am in favour of our artistes working in Indian films, but if any film has even a slight anti-Pakistan theme, please think like a Pakistani first and then an artiste.”
The Pakistan Film Censor Board has banned the exhibition of Baby. The team behind the film, which stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role, was in a state of shock over its ban in the country. While producer Bhushan Kumar was still wondering why, actor Anupam Kher emphasised the need to move beyond borders and look at the universal problem of terrorism. “The film is about anti-terrorism. Sometimes, it is important to go beyond territories and understand who the enemy is; is it a country or a bunch of people?” Kher told IANS.
Interestingly, actor Mikaal Zulfiqar is soon to be seen in the film that Abbasi claims he rejected. In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Zulfiqar had described his role in the film as “short and sweet.” He had shared that he received a call from an Indian casting director for the film, and got on board with it as soon as he heard its details.
“I committed to the film when I was told that I was going to star alongside talented actors, such as Anupum Kher and Akshay Kumar,” he had stated. Zulfiqar was hopeful that the controversy surrounding Baby pertaining to its content would “settle down,” so that people can enjoy the film as a mode of entertainment.
Despite having done a handful of Bollywood films, Zulfiqar has no aspirations to establish himself as an actor in India. “As an artiste, there is nothing better than doing a film in one’s own country, and I would always give first preference to my local industry,” he had commented. Zulfiqar mentioned that he was supposed to star in a couple of Pakistani films towards the end of last year, but the projects didn’t materialise.
Zulfiqar attributed the decision to not pursue a career in Bollywood to the nature of the audience and the ever-changing political climate of Pakistan and India. “Indian audiences are a little bold and Pakistani audiences are a little sensitive. So, I would not want to do anything that offends people of my homeland,” he had proclaimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2015.
Abbasi took to his official Facebook page and posted, “I was offered this Indian film Baby last year and I immediately said no to it seeing a slight anti-Pakistan element in its storyline.” The post further read, “I am in favour of our artistes working in Indian films, but if any film has even a slight anti-Pakistan theme, please think like a Pakistani first and then an artiste.”
The Pakistan Film Censor Board has banned the exhibition of Baby. The team behind the film, which stars Akshay Kumar in the lead role, was in a state of shock over its ban in the country. While producer Bhushan Kumar was still wondering why, actor Anupam Kher emphasised the need to move beyond borders and look at the universal problem of terrorism. “The film is about anti-terrorism. Sometimes, it is important to go beyond territories and understand who the enemy is; is it a country or a bunch of people?” Kher told IANS.
Interestingly, actor Mikaal Zulfiqar is soon to be seen in the film that Abbasi claims he rejected. In an earlier interview with The Express Tribune, Zulfiqar had described his role in the film as “short and sweet.” He had shared that he received a call from an Indian casting director for the film, and got on board with it as soon as he heard its details.
“I committed to the film when I was told that I was going to star alongside talented actors, such as Anupum Kher and Akshay Kumar,” he had stated. Zulfiqar was hopeful that the controversy surrounding Baby pertaining to its content would “settle down,” so that people can enjoy the film as a mode of entertainment.
Despite having done a handful of Bollywood films, Zulfiqar has no aspirations to establish himself as an actor in India. “As an artiste, there is nothing better than doing a film in one’s own country, and I would always give first preference to my local industry,” he had commented. Zulfiqar mentioned that he was supposed to star in a couple of Pakistani films towards the end of last year, but the projects didn’t materialise.
Zulfiqar attributed the decision to not pursue a career in Bollywood to the nature of the audience and the ever-changing political climate of Pakistan and India. “Indian audiences are a little bold and Pakistani audiences are a little sensitive. So, I would not want to do anything that offends people of my homeland,” he had proclaimed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 30th, 2015.