Set against the backdrop of the 26/11 Mumbai Attacks that shook the entire nation back in 2008, Saif Ali Khan-starrer
Phantom is a fictional tale with its roots in reality. The story of a
spy, who takes on the task of assassinating the mastermind behind the
brutal terror attack, has received much flak from across the border,
even before its release. With the theatre doors already shut for this
action thriller in the neighbouring country, the Kabir Khan directorial
has become the talking point not just in Pakistan, but in India as well.
Meanwhile, Saif's statement that Jama'at-ud-Dawa'h (JuD) chief Hafiz
Saeed and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are the real culprits behind
the terror attacks has already made heads turn. And one cannot also
ignore the fact that his paternal uncle Major General Isfandiyar Ali
Khan Pataudi was one of the contenders to the post of the ISI chief back
in 2012.
But Saif is no mood to mince words. He says that it's a reality that many people in India have families in Pakistan, and he is no different. If he can be questioned for having an uncle in Pakistan, he believes that his uncle's family is in equal trouble for having relatives in India.
"It's a complicated situation. The two countries are opposed to each other. Even during our childhood days, when my cousin and I used to play games, it was a difficult situation for us as either I had to kill him, or he had to kill me to win the battle. Even back then, we were somewhere aware of the fact that we belong to enemy countries. Everything said and done, I think I would still choose my country over any relative. I would be against anyone who is against my country," says Khan.
The 45-year-old actor adds that his father's uncle Shahryar Khan, currently the chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board, also moved to Pakistan after partition. But at the same time, he has utmost respect for his uncle who served the Pakistan government for a very long time as he believes that these men are very different from ISI. "Shahryar Khan moved to Pakistan post partition, thinking that India is not a proper place to bring up a Muslim boy. But he is a highly respected man. As a foreign secretary, he still speaks to our government. I think he is an amazing man. But ISI is something completely different," says the Agent Vinod actor.
While
Phantom has been banned in Pakistan on JuD chief Hafiz Saeed's plea,
who called it a "filthy propaganda" against him and his country, Saif
says that everyone is entitled to a defence. But at the same time, he
maintains that the film is not against any religion. "Everyone is
entitled to a defence. But we have seen his (Hafiz Saeed) hate speeches.
He hates us. And people like Ajmal Kasab are a result of it. They are
sent to India to harbour terrorist organisations. But at the same time,
we know he doesn't represent the people of Pakistan. There is a part of
their country which wants to promote culture and maintain good
relations," adds Khan.
However, the actor is amused that Hafiz Saeed, who is unfazed by the Indian army or India as a country, has lost his night's sleep over a film. "Phantom is a mix of fact and fiction. Everyone knows who is the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks. The way Kasab was sent to Mumbai to open fire at innocent people at the railway station and hotels, similarly in the film, we dabble with the idea of sending a guy from India to kill the person behind the bomb blasts. That is where the fantasy lies. It is an unbiased film. Most of the people involved in making the film are Indian Muslims. Our position is very clear that we are Indians first," says the actor.
In fact, Khan reveals that he did not know anything about Hafiz Saeed before he read the script of the film. He says, "I didn't know anything about Hafiz Saeed till Kabir introduced me to him. And it was appalling to hear about the brutalities he had inflicted on innocent people. Despite this, I don't think we would ever treat the subject in a jingoistic or sensational way. No one is interested in bashing Pakistan."
It's not every day that actors like Saif Ali Khan make political statements and clearly hint at the culprit behind one of the deadliest terror attacks in India. But he feels terrible that most of the times, such statements and comments are scrutinised and often blown out of proportion, and at times actors are made to apologise for their thoughts.
"It is terrible to apologise for expressing one's opinion. If our beliefs or statements are scrutinised all the time, then nothing original or heartfelt would ever be said. Even for that matter, it was sad that Salman Khan had to apologise for his comments on Yakub Memon. Even Neha Dhupia wasn't spared recently. Different people have different views. It is difficult to make everyone happy. But if you ask me, I want to stay apolitical. I don't want to exhaust myself by convincing a non-believer. In context to Hafiz Saeed, I would like to say that I was just stating a fact and not making a comment," Khan signs off.
But Saif is no mood to mince words. He says that it's a reality that many people in India have families in Pakistan, and he is no different. If he can be questioned for having an uncle in Pakistan, he believes that his uncle's family is in equal trouble for having relatives in India.
"It's a complicated situation. The two countries are opposed to each other. Even during our childhood days, when my cousin and I used to play games, it was a difficult situation for us as either I had to kill him, or he had to kill me to win the battle. Even back then, we were somewhere aware of the fact that we belong to enemy countries. Everything said and done, I think I would still choose my country over any relative. I would be against anyone who is against my country," says Khan.
The 45-year-old actor adds that his father's uncle Shahryar Khan, currently the chairperson of the Pakistan Cricket Board, also moved to Pakistan after partition. But at the same time, he has utmost respect for his uncle who served the Pakistan government for a very long time as he believes that these men are very different from ISI. "Shahryar Khan moved to Pakistan post partition, thinking that India is not a proper place to bring up a Muslim boy. But he is a highly respected man. As a foreign secretary, he still speaks to our government. I think he is an amazing man. But ISI is something completely different," says the Agent Vinod actor.
However, the actor is amused that Hafiz Saeed, who is unfazed by the Indian army or India as a country, has lost his night's sleep over a film. "Phantom is a mix of fact and fiction. Everyone knows who is the mastermind behind the 26/11 attacks. The way Kasab was sent to Mumbai to open fire at innocent people at the railway station and hotels, similarly in the film, we dabble with the idea of sending a guy from India to kill the person behind the bomb blasts. That is where the fantasy lies. It is an unbiased film. Most of the people involved in making the film are Indian Muslims. Our position is very clear that we are Indians first," says the actor.
In fact, Khan reveals that he did not know anything about Hafiz Saeed before he read the script of the film. He says, "I didn't know anything about Hafiz Saeed till Kabir introduced me to him. And it was appalling to hear about the brutalities he had inflicted on innocent people. Despite this, I don't think we would ever treat the subject in a jingoistic or sensational way. No one is interested in bashing Pakistan."
It's not every day that actors like Saif Ali Khan make political statements and clearly hint at the culprit behind one of the deadliest terror attacks in India. But he feels terrible that most of the times, such statements and comments are scrutinised and often blown out of proportion, and at times actors are made to apologise for their thoughts.
"It is terrible to apologise for expressing one's opinion. If our beliefs or statements are scrutinised all the time, then nothing original or heartfelt would ever be said. Even for that matter, it was sad that Salman Khan had to apologise for his comments on Yakub Memon. Even Neha Dhupia wasn't spared recently. Different people have different views. It is difficult to make everyone happy. But if you ask me, I want to stay apolitical. I don't want to exhaust myself by convincing a non-believer. In context to Hafiz Saeed, I would like to say that I was just stating a fact and not making a comment," Khan signs off.
Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/saif-ali-khan-on-phantom--uncle-isfandiyar-my-uncle-is-in-equal-trouble-for-having-relatives-in-india/1/460792.html
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