Actress Shabana Azmi says she is confident that her upcoming movie "Neerja" will get a clearance for release in Pakistan, amid reports that it has been banned there. Based on real incidents during the hijacking of the Pan Am Flight 73 at Karachi airport in 1986, the movie has been banned in Pakistan allegedly for showing the country in poor light.
"The film is yet to be seen by the selection committee. Waiting for the reaction, we are absolutely confident that once they watch the film they will have no problem with it," Shabana, who plays Neerja's mother, said.
"Neerja was awarded the Ashok Chakra by the Indian government, a medal by Pakistan and a citation by the US government. There is no way that we will tell a story in which a girl was awarded by the Pakistani government and show the country in poor light. I'm really confident that when they watch the film, they will realise their apprehensions were completely unfounded."
When asked to comment, Director Ram Madhavani said that there is no official word as yet. The movie team along with Neerja's brothers launched a biography on the late flight attendant, yesterday.