Bollywood director Kabir Khan, who was recently in Karachi to attend a marketing conference, was surrounded by protestors on Wednesday.
The Bajrangi Bhaijaan was en route to Lahore when he was surrounded by protesters chanting anti-India and pro-Pakistan slogans at the Karachi airport. He was ambushed for showing Pakistan in a bad light in his films.
However, Kabir did not react and proceeded towards the airport lounge. Soon after the incident, he tweeted, “To media on both sides: 12 screaming lunatics with a mobile phone camera is not news. Please don’t give them the attention they want. Ignore.”
He has now opened up about the whole incident calling the protesters the “extremists that Phantom spoke about.”
He added, “These are the kind of extremists that Phantom spoke about. I tried addressing their issues but they were interested in filming videos on phones. Such people are extremists and forget that if I directed Phantom, I have also made Bajrangi Bhaijaan.”
“It was my first time in Karachi. I was only there for a day but I had a great time interacting with the delegates. People there had certain views and reservations about Phantom but they posed questions and I answered them. That’s how a civil discussion is meant to be.”
He continued, “One stray incident with a bunch of mad men wouldn’t deter me. Fringe elements don’t represent all of Pakistan, the people I met had warmth and goodwill,” Kabir told Mumbai Mirror.
When asked if he expected such a reaction for Phantom, based on a book Mumbai Avengers, Kabir said, “It’s alright for people to express their opinions but there is a way to do it. I’m open to healthy discussions. My film was made because it tackled an important issue.”
Kabir remains undeterred by the whole incident and said he will continue to make such films. ”I will continue to make films that I believe in. I have always worked on political dramas and such things don’t deter me.”