Friday, Aug 16, 2013
Dubai: Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi wants the film on him to be clean with no obscene scenes.
Hot on the heels of the huge success of the Indian movie based on legendary athlete Milkha Singh, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag’, Pakistan is set to release the film based on Afridi called ‘Main Hoon Shahid Afridi’ (I am Afridi).
The story is about a boy who dreams of becoming a great player like Afridi. Though the film is set for release on August 24, scenes from the movie have been shown on various TV channels showing the hero hugging a girl and kissing her in a nightclub.
Speaking to reporters in Karachi, Afridi expressed his displeasure over the scenes as he fears they may tarnish his image and lead young viewers astray.
Afridi had given permission for the filmmaker to use his name, hoping that the movie would inspire young kids. He now wants the producers to cut those scenes.
Afridi, who hails from a conservative family in Khyber on the Afghan border and who is played by Noman Habib in the film, follows strict principles in his life. He said: “Children and families who may go and see this movie because of me and will feel bad if they see scenes like this. So I have asked them [the team behind the film] to remove the scenes.”
Humayun Saeed, who is the producer of the movie, had initially approached Afridi to take the lead role of the movie, but the star all-rounder refused. “They offered me the role but my elders didn’t let me act, but I happily gave them permission to use my name as this film will bring a positive message,” said Afridi, who also did not charge the producers any money for using his name for the film.
Following Afridi’s reaction, Saeed is now considering removing the scenes from the final cut.
Whatever happens, the Pakistani film industry is expecting the movie to be a huge success considering the star all-rounder’s huge fan following in the country. The film cost $1 million to make.
India’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag movie is the third highest grossing Bollywood film of this year and the Afridi movie is expected to create the same impact in Pakistan.
During the Sharjah tournaments in the 1980s and 90s when Afridi came out to bat, all the taxi drivers from his town in the UAE ensured they were at the stadium and returned to duty only after his innings was over. With Afridi returning to form recently, his cricket fans in the UAE are expecting to see him in action again during the upcoming series against South Africa and Sri Lanka here.
By K.R. Nayar Chief Cricket Writer
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
