20 October,2016 01:55 PM IST | | Mohar Basu
Filmmaker Habib Faisal is apparently in a fix. Reason? One of the five boys in his upcoming film is a 20-year-old Pakistani, Danyal Zafar, better known as singer-actor Ali Zafar's brother
Ali Zafar and Danyal Zafar
Ali Zafar and Danyal Zafar
After prepping over months with five newcomers for his untitled prison drama, filmmaker Habib Faisal is apparently in a fix. Reason? One of the five boys in the movie is a 20-year-old Pakistani, Danyal Zafar, better known as singer-actor Ali Zafar's brother.
According to sources, following the "hyperbolic reporting around Uri attacks in the social and mainstream media, and a call for a ban against Pakistani artistes by various groups in India, Danyal had to rush out of Mumbai a few weeks ago, and head back to his hometown, Lahore, for the time being."
Given that the situation hasn't improved since, or is unlikely to anytime soon, sources close to the film's production say, "Danyal's family is hugely apprehensive about sending him back to Mumbai now. The filmmakers are also in no position to assert themselves. They can't guarantee his security either."
This leaves the film unit with few options, besides remain in limbo. The group of five debutant actors in the film, produced by Yash Raj, had bonded well, and were set to start shoot early November. Danyal had been roped in as the film's romantic hero.
The only silver lining, says the insider from the filmmaking unit, is that "at least we haven't begun principal photography yet, unlike in the case of the Fawad Khan-starrer Aye Dil Hai Mushkil, Gauri Shinde's Dear Zindagi with Ali Zafar in it, or, for that matter, Raees that stars Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, alongside Shah Rukh Khan. There is very little one can do about those movies."
A unit hand adds, "Habib's film is about a bunch of convicts who form an in-house rock band in prison. One of the girls is from the North East. Danyal, who is known to have a flair for rock music, is a guitar player, and a fine singer as well. At this point, Habib is unsure about what his next move should be. It is rather late in the day to look for a replacement. It will be difficult to find another actor who fits the part so well. The film's first schedule was supposed to kick-start in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh)."
