The turbulent situation in the Middle East has struck Pakistan’s entertainment industry once again, this time delaying the theatrical release of the upcoming action film Khan Tumhara .
The film, which was set to release on Eidul Azha, has been deferred until further notice, according to a post on Instagram from Hum Films.
The company appreciated fans for their “patience and unwavering support” and said they “remain committed to bringing this story to the big screen very soon”. They said a new release date would be announced “at the earliest”.
The film, starring Bilal Ashraf and Maya Ali in its lead roles, was due to be an epic of heroism with helpings of guns, guts and glory on the side. Its teaser was packed with adrenaline; it began in icy terrain, with a narrator speaking of a perilous path full of struggles and oppression.
“The pharaohs of our time wear but a single face, a face I am sworn to recognise. I will find them and I will rise up. And I will talk the sacred line decreed by God. My name is Yusuf Khan, this is my story,” he said, with Ashraf’s character on screen.
There’s a scene where an iconic black and yellow taxi drifts through a roundabout and another where Ali’s character is setting up a shot with a sniper rifle.
Variety reported that the production employed multiple international crew members for its action sequences, with Nick Khan of Eternals and Hussain Abdullah of Skyfall leading the team. The crew travelled to Pakistan to shoot the action sequences and train local crew members for several months, after which it took around 70 days to shoot the action scenes alone.
The publication reported that Ashraf performed his own stunts, without body doubles, sustaining multiple injuries during filming.
The release of Khan Tumhara is the latest in a line of major entertainment events to have been postponed after unprovoked US-Israeli attacks on Iran plunged the region into chaos.
Earlier, the ARY Entertainment Awards suffered a similar fate due to security concerns regarding their Dubai venue. The grand finale of Pakistan Idol was also pushed forward in view of austerity measures and a change in the national sentiment.
