'Main houn Afridi' costs the filmmaker $1 million
A Pakistani film, "Main Houn Afridi" ("I am Afridi") is inspired by the career of cricketer Shahid Afridi and tells a heart-warming tale of raw talent in Pakistan.
But the cricketer doesn't seem impressed.
Afridi is upset due to few intimate scenes in the movie. He demanded that the producers of a film edit the "obscene" scene which he fears could damage his image.
The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to the film but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray.
The scene, which turned cricketer red, show the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.
The trailers aired on various TV channels had the scene andno objection was made then.
Afridi is also upset because the film's promotional material wrongly suggested that he had acted in the film.
The movie had already suffered technical glitches which stopped it from being released over the Eid holiday weekend.
Pakistan's film industry has been on the skids for years, unable to compete with Bollywood (India's film industry), but filmmakers hoped the phenomenal popularity of one of the country's best-loved cricketers will translate into takings at the box office.
'Main houn Afridi' or I am Afridi is about a young boy who dreams of becoming as great as the cricket star and chronicles the ordeal he faces en route to playing like his idol.
Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially persuaded Afridi to take the lead role, but the 33-year-old said it violated the traditions of his tribe on the Afghan border.
"They offered me the role but my elders didn't let me act as it is against our traditions but I happily give permission to use my name as this film will give a positive message," Afridi told AFP.
Saeed said the film, which cost around $1 million to make, will be released in Pakistan for Eid, as well as in the Gulf and in India.
"It's an underdog story which centres on the game of cricket. It's all about wealthy versus poor, who both try to make a name in cricket but the passion of the poor wins the day," Saeed told AFP.
"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.
"I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life."
Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.
But the cricketer doesn't seem impressed.
Afridi is upset due to few intimate scenes in the movie. He demanded that the producers of a film edit the "obscene" scene which he fears could damage his image.
The big-hitting all-rounder had given his blessing to the film but is now worried it may lead young viewers astray.
The scene, which turned cricketer red, show the hero hugs and kisses a girl in a nightclub.
The trailers aired on various TV channels had the scene andno objection was made then.
Afridi is also upset because the film's promotional material wrongly suggested that he had acted in the film.
The movie had already suffered technical glitches which stopped it from being released over the Eid holiday weekend.
Pakistan's film industry has been on the skids for years, unable to compete with Bollywood (India's film industry), but filmmakers hoped the phenomenal popularity of one of the country's best-loved cricketers will translate into takings at the box office.
'Main houn Afridi' or I am Afridi is about a young boy who dreams of becoming as great as the cricket star and chronicles the ordeal he faces en route to playing like his idol.
Producer Humayun Saeed, a top actor in Pakistan, initially persuaded Afridi to take the lead role, but the 33-year-old said it violated the traditions of his tribe on the Afghan border.
"They offered me the role but my elders didn't let me act as it is against our traditions but I happily give permission to use my name as this film will give a positive message," Afridi told AFP.
Saeed said the film, which cost around $1 million to make, will be released in Pakistan for Eid, as well as in the Gulf and in India.
"It's an underdog story which centres on the game of cricket. It's all about wealthy versus poor, who both try to make a name in cricket but the passion of the poor wins the day," Saeed told AFP.
"I had given permission for the film with an aim to give kids some positive healthy entertainment, to divert their minds towards cricket and it should not have obscene things," said Afridi, 33.
"I want to tell the people that the film is not related to my life."
Afridi, who shot to stardom in 1996 aged 16 when he hit a world record one-day international hundred off 37 balls, said he wanted the producer to cut the scene.
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