On November 22, Maniappan R Kutty, an Indian driver posted in war-torn Afghanistan, was kidnapped and then killed by the Taliban.
That news was chilling for most Indians, and especially for those friends and family in the foreign country.
The unit of Yash Raj Films’ Kabul Express — starring John Abraham and Arshad Warsi, directed by Kabir Khan is presently shooting in Kabul.
Maria speaks
Arshad’s wife Maria, who is in Mumbai, spoke to hitList. She said, “I have been watching the news for the last three days. I spoke to Arshad a few minutes ago and he assured me that the situation is fine and the security, tight. People have been calling up and asking how Arshad is, but he’s fine.
I believe in God and I know he will protect everyone. I am not worried as Kabir is the king of Afghanistan. Having shot lots of documentaries there he knows the ins and outs of the place very well.�
Maria who travelled to Kabul for the first schedule added, “I was there for 10 days and the Afghan police have been guarding the unit 24/7. The place where we stayed might not have been high on luxuries but it was the highest in terms of security measures.�
Arshad says he’s fine
Arshad Warsi, who is shooting in Kabul, sounded calm when we called him, “There has not been much change here. Everything is as it was,� he says. “We’ve had very tight security since we came here and now they are even more careful. All the Afghanis here are very ashamed and deeply hurt with the (murder by Taliban) news, and they are guarding us with their lives.�
Surely there must’ve been fear and panic in the unit after hearing the news of an Indian national’s murder? Warsi said, “There is fear and tension at the back of everyone’s minds, but what to do? A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. Plus the Afghan government is really protecting us. Let’s hope for the best…�
John’s okay, says Bips
Bipasha Basu, who’s in Goa for the premiere of Prakash Jha’s Apaharan at IFFI, was also concerned about John after hearing the news but felt at ease after talking to her beau. She said, “I have spoken to John. He’s fine. But today the network was bad. I couldn’t talk to him at length.�
From Kabul, Kabir Khan assured us that there was no reason for worry, “There is no tenseness in the city. These things happen everyday here and people are used to it. The unit is fine and there is no reason to worry as we have been given great security cover by the government of Afghanistan.�
Have the security measures been tightened? “There has been tight security here from the word go,� he said.
Courtesy: Mid-Day
