The Bollywood actor was set to make his debut in Pakistan under the banner of veteran actress Zeba Bakhtiar’s production house.
Irani agreed to work in the film because he deeply loved the script, but has now decided to opt out of it over the mistreatment of the Bajrangi Bhaijaan director in Pakistan, according to sources in the Indian media.
This news has left Zeba Bakhtiar in a limbo because the very film is also a directorial debut of her son Azaan Sami Khan.
Read: Angry protesters besiege Indian filmmaker Kabir Khan at Karachi airport
As per reports, Azaan wanted to make his directorial debut in 2016, and for that has was planning to cast top Bollywood stars to give a more international hype to the film.
Boman Irani heard the script and loved it. He agreed to play a role in the till some shoe-wielding protesters surrounded the Bollywood director at the Karachi airport and his mood changed.
After the entire airport episode, Boman Irani was quick to back out of the film citing date issues. Sources claimed the Indian actor was left with no other choice, but to dissociate himself from the project.
Now, the news is, Azaan has been looking for a Pakistani actor to fit into the same role that Irani was supposed to play.
Related read: ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ director Kabir Khan says can’t go to Pakistan again
The cast of the film – which is said to be a love story, revolving around only three characters – is yet to be finalised while the film’s shooting is likely to begin from September this year.
“Our film industries have always had respect for each other and Indian stars are much loved in Pakistan. But, I understand that this kind of situation would scare people. No artist would like to be screamed at by anybody,” told Azaan to the Indian media.
