ISLAMABAD – Titled *Kaptaan* (vernacular for ‘Captain’), the movie is basedon the life of cricketer turned philanthropist turned politician, andchairman of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.
The movie has been in the making for a long time — it was announced in theyear 2012, and its UK-based Pakistani producers Farhat Faheem and Asim Khanfilmed a major chunk with director Faisal Aman but the project kept gettingdelayed. Its release was originally planned for 2013, the year Pakistanwent to polls; apparently, to influence voters in favour of Khan’s PTI. Andit has been revived recently, this being the election year, again.
There are reports that the makers weren’t happy with Aman’s work, andwanted to re-shoot. Model and actor Abdul Mannan, who plays the titularrole, confirms that “new people are coming on board; an entire productionteam, including a new director, is expected to fly in from UK in August.”
Mannan isn’t worried about the endless delays because “hopefully this shallbenefit the film,” he tells *Gulf News tabloid!*. “It [*Kaptaan*] had avery amateurish, indie-movie look; but now, as more money is pumped intothe project, the scale of the film shall be widened.”
Mannan says he got picked for the role primarily on the basis of hisresemblance to Khan despite great competition: there were popular modelsand actors such as Emaad Irfani and Abdullah Ejaz also in the running.Where Irfani had a growing fan base, Ejaz was loved for his flawlessmimicry of Khan on different TV shows. But Mannan walked away with thepart. “It took me three auditions, including a complete look test, before Iwas finalised,” he says, gladly.
According to him, *Kaptaan*chronicles the journey of Imran Khan from hisOxford days through his 1992 World Cup win, the construction of ShaukatKhanum Cancer Hospital, up to the formation of PTI. Scripted by NaveedAkbar, the film steers clear of the controversies that have surroundedKhan’s personal life — be it his linkup with Sita White, among others; theownership of Tyrian White, their (alleged) love child; or his manymarriages. Only Jemima Goldsmith, portrayed by a British-Pakistani modelSaeeda Imtiaz, is featured prominently. Sonya Jehan plays Khan’s sister.
“[Imran] Khan sahib was very close to his mother,” Mannan adds. “When helearnt that his mother had cancer at an advanced stage, he was shattered.Playing him I was able to identify with his character completely, havinglost my own father to the fatal disease.
“The film has given me some deep insight into his emotional side, hisstruggles, and how he captained our national cricket team.”
Mannan generously credits his (former) director Aman for helping himprepare for the role: “He groomed me as an actor, and guided me how to copyKhan’s mannerisms, his brooding looks, his furrowed brow, his immense useof hands when he’s talking, and so on. He told me how not to go over thetop.”
For Mannan, who is pushing 30s, it wasn’t easy playing the older Khan. Thisis where the makeup artist Malik Ikhlaq came in. “We didn’t have a fancy[makeup] team to transform me, like they had for Ranbir Kapoor in *Sanju*,”he says. “But I must say we’ve achieved some great results despite ourlimitations. I am now eagerly waiting to complete the shoot.”
*Kaptaan* has music by Farhan Zameer who has also sung *Maa*, a sad song.Besides, the film’s soundtrack features Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali *AllahHu* and an inspirational title track.