Kabul Express is the first international feature film to have been shot entirely in Kabul after the end of the Taliban.  It was shot over a period of 45 days in the winter of 2005, and the cast and crew were repeatedly sent death threats by the Taliban to stop shooting. 

The film is inspired by Khan’s own experiences in Afghanistan as a documentary film-maker. His personal experiences and encounters with members of the Taliban were the starting points for his vision of this film. 

ON THE CHALLENGES FACED IN MAKING THIS FILM

KK:     The death threats were our biggest challenge.  Unfortunately, as you know, the resurgence of the Taliban started in September, 2005.There were a spate of suicide bombings in Kabul, and a number of attacks along the border.  September is when we landed in Kabul to begin our shooting.  Prior to that, all the research trips we had made – things had been very stable.  Things were normal and we thought we’d be able to pull it off with no issues like this.  But, if you do something high-profile in Kabul, and there is nothing more high-profile than a Hindi feature film, it’s bound to attract attention. Also, an international feature film being shot in Afghanistan sends out the message that things are becoming normal there and that’s not the message the Taliban wants to send out.  Then you have someone like John Abraham, who’s very well known there, an Indian icon.  All together, it became something the Taliban was not happy with and they began sending death threats to John, and specific threats to our cast and crew. That shook up our whole shooting schedule and for about four to five days we did not shoot.  And it was ultimately left to me, by the producers, to make a call on whether we wanted to continue shooting.  It was a very difficult decision. As a documentary film-maker, one can do many more things, because at the end of the day, you’re just a couple of guys who blend into the background. We, anyway, if I let my stubble grow for six or seven days and dress like them, we look like Afghans.  But, when you’re there with a crew of sixty to seventy people, it’s a huge responsibility.  And it was only after we found out exactly what was happening, got assurances, and checked out for ourselves, we made an informed decision to continue. Of course, the Afghan government gave us great support. The Afghan minister came and told us that if you leave today, it’s going to be a great defeat for Afghanistan, which was putting a whole lot of pressure on me, adding to the responsibility of our cast and crew. But he followed it up with action, he gave us unprecedented security. 

ON MAKING YOUR FIRST FEATURE FILM AFTER A CAREER IN DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING

KK:     It’s been very exciting. It’s been very enjoyable.  I do enjoy my documentaries immensely – it’s a different sort of thrill.  There’s a rawness when you’re shooting documentaries – things are not under your control.  That’s the excitement of it – capturing things as they happen.  In feature films, of course, things are completely different; you need to have control over all the elements so you can put out exactly what you want. Because if the elements are not under control, you will not get the results that you want.  They’re completely different in character, but they’re both equally enjoyable. I know I’m going to enjoy continuing to make feature films, but at the same time, I know I’m going keep making documentary films.

ON THE NEXT PROJECT

KK:     My next project is a feature film with Yashraj Films.  I’m on contract with them. I haven’t yet fixed the idea – I’m right now working on two ideas. 

JA:       Kabir is in the big league now!  Yashraj director and all! He’s in a position of power.

KK:     I’ve been very lucky to have the backing of the biggest studio in India and be able to make the kind of film that I want to make – it doesn’t get any better than that. I’m going to start pre-production for my next film in January. The moment I get back from Toronto, I’m going to decide which of the two films I’m going to make. 

ON TORONTO

KK:     It’s my second visit.  This time I haven’t seen much of the city; it’s mostly been the film festival and interviews. But it’s very exciting. To have my first film at the festival has been thrilling. Because just finishing your first film is a huge thrill.   After that, to be selected for Toronto…it’s great.  After this we move on to the Pusan Film Festival, then London and then the Stockholm Film Festival, we’ll be doing the whole Festival circuit and then releasing the film in December which I’m anxiously awaiting. 

ON MAKING A HINDI FILM WITHOUT SONGS OR A LOVE STORY

KK:     Initially yes, there were challenges.  When I was shopping around for producers with my script, it is, in the Indian context, a radically different film.  But, I was happy that Aditya Chopra was on the lookout for a film like this.  And when he read my script, he loved it and he encouraged me to just go completely with my own vision and not dilute it in any way.    It’s great to get a producer like that. 

ON HIS FUTURE ASPIRATIONS AS AN ACTOR

JA:       Well, I was just thinking about this today.  I really feel that a festival like the Toronto Film Festival has to be a regular on my agenda, so what I’m going to do is aim for a film each year that is worthy of being here.  Why, because it reaches out to a North American market.  Why, because I think it’s special when an audience outside your own looks at you.  Like, when I arrived here and people look at you and they’re like, “You’re John Abraham.  I enjoyed you in Water and I’m looking forward to Kabul Express.”  This is an audience that doesn’t see your quintessential commercial Indian cinema.  That’s why I’d like to do it. Secondly, as an actor, if you ask me what I’d like to do, I’d rather do Indian cinema that goes global.  Like Chinese films such as Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, when there are Indian films like Kabul Express which are recognized here, it makes me feel very proud.  That’s what I want to aim for – being an actor from India going on a global format. 

ON GOING HOLLYWOOD

JA:       Talking about my country, my people, no, I’ll never leave that place.  That’s my home, that’s the kind of audience I want to entertain.   And my people are my people, if you know what I’m saying.  I’ll never leave my home base, and I’ll never bang my chest and say I’m doing a Hollywood movie.  I don’t want to give false proclamations because it usually doesn’t happen.

ON GOING BEHIND THE LENS

JA:       No, no, no.  There was a rumor in Bombay that I turned producer, and I said no way – I don’t want to be a producer.  At this point in time, I want to try and make good movies.

ON TORONTO

JA:       I love Toronto.  For me, outside of Bombay, if I ever, hypothetically, had to settle down, it would be Toronto.  I love this place.  What I like about Toronto, it’s the only place where you can say you’re proud to be Indian, Pakistani or Afghani or whatever, and still be Canadian.  This country allows that. It’s sad that some of that is being misused today. But all in all, it’s a great country to be in – it’s superb.  What I like about Canada is the people, and then the scenic beauty. Because as far as natural beauty, there is no place like India.    I mean, Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara…It’s the people in Canada who are so very nice.  I came onstage at the Rock Stars show and told the audience, “This feels like home.”  It is like my second home.  Toronto is such a world city, too, there are so many different cuisines from all over the world in such proximity…and people are more accommodating and receptive to other cultures compared to, let’s say, New York.  Even the service in a hotel, for example, you say you’d like a brown bread sandwich, and it’s no problem at all whereas in the States it would a different story.

ON UPCOMING PROJECTS

AO:      You’ve got Salaam-E-Ishq with Vidya Balan and Babul with Amitabh and Rani coming up. What else can we look forward to?

JA:       Well, I’m doing Deepa’s next film, Exclusion, and I’m doing a film with Anuraag Kashyap called No Smoking – I’m going back to start that.  I hope – I think that would be a festival movie next year.  We’re aiming at releasing it on Anti-Tobacco Day which I think is May 31^st.