IDEA behind Kabul Express & Director : Kabin Khan’s Kabul experience
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 from October to December 2005. The cast and crew were sent death threats by the Taliban to stop shooting but the Afghan government provided tight security and enabled the shoot to be completed in Afghanistan. On some days there were more armed soldiers than crew on the location.
The film is inspired by the Director, Kabir Khan’s own experiences in Afghanistan as a documentary film-maker. His encounters and exchanges with Taliban prisoners were the starting point for the script.
IDEA
11th September 2001: The twin towers came down in New York and suddenly, the world’s attention turned to a country in South Asia ravaged by war for two and a half decades. With Osama Bin Laden clearly in their sights the US began its bombing campaign in Afghanistan… where the ruling Taliban had protected and allowed Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda terrorists their operating bases.
Hundreds of journalists came to Afghanistan to capture this turbulent time in the history of this war ravaged nation. Rajan Kapoor (Executive Producer) and I were also there to shoot our documentary on the Taliban years.
CAST & STORY
Five individuals – two Indians (JohnAbraham and Arshad Warsi), a Pakistani (Salman Shahid), an Afghan (Hanif Hum Ghum) and an American (Linda Arsenio). Interestingly, all actors in this film have been cast according to the nationality of the characters.
JOHN ABRABHAM as SUHEL KHAN
ARSHAD WARSI as JAI KAPOOR
SALMAN SHAHID as IMRAN KHAN AFRIDI – a pakistani soldier of the hated Taliban who needs to escape the wrath of the Afghans and run to his country, Pakistan.
HANIF HUM GHUM as KHYBER - a proud Afghan who has seen the destruction of his country over the decades.
LINDA ARSENIO as JESSICA BECKHAM – An American photojournalist ready to risk her life to photograph the Taliban.
STORY
Jai and Suhel – TV journalists from India in search of the ultimate news scoop: meeting the Taliban.
Imran Khan Afridi – a soldier of the hated Taliban who needs to escape the wrath of the Afghans and run to his country, Pakistan. Khyber, a proud Afghan who has seen the destruction of his country over the decades. Jessica Beckham – An American photojournalist ready to risk her life to photograph the Taliban. Five people from different worlds, their paths are destined to cross in a ruthless country devastated by war – Afghanistan.
This is a thrilling story, spanning 48 hours, of five individuals linked by hate and fear, but brought together by fate to finally recognize each other.
Set in post 9/11 war-torn Afghanistan, Kabul Express is a kidnap drama that is alternately funny and horrifying. This is the story of a unique reluctant bond that develops between people who are otherwise hostile towards each other but are compelled to understand one another in the time that they are forced to share together.