It's a shame: Saif on 'Phantom' ban in Pakistan

Actor-producer Saif Ali Khan says he was expecting his forthcoming film "Phantom", set in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, to be banned in Pakistan. But he affirms that the film isn't against the neighbouring country.

The counter-terrorism drama film, directed by Kabir Khan, whose Salman Khan-starrer "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" hit the jackpot in Pakistan, has been banned in the country reportedly by the Lahore high court after a petition was filed by 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

Saif said that it was "expected".

"Unfortunately, certain films that they (Pakistan) will make, we (India) will ban, and certain films that we make, they will ban. If you don't want to get banned, you have to make other films like 'Race'... which is fair enough because certain political issues are very sensitive between the two countries," Saif told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

"The film is about terrorism and there might be people in Pakistan who are anti-India. It's (the film) not anti-Pakistan, but that's okay. Even 'Agent Vinod' wasn't anti-Pakistan... that got banned," he said.

Is Pakistan an important market for Indian films?

"You can make a fair amount of money from that market, so it's bit of a shame. It's not important in terms of... it doesn't dictate what kind of movies we make," he shared.

"Phantom", which also stars Katrina Kaif, will hit the Indian screens on August 28.