New Hope for Film Industry

Can a wealthy businessman turned movie star and producer breath life into Afghanistan's tiny film industry? That was clearly the hope raised by the recent opening of “Bullet”, an action adventure film financed by - and starring - Afghan émigré Asad Sikandar.

Sikandar, 34, looked fit to burst with joy as the audience, which consisted mainly of government officials, foreign diplomats and film industry insiders, cheered his film. "Your encouragement has honoured me, and I am grateful to you,” he said, smiling broadly.

Although Sikander was born in Kabul, the film’s opening was something of a homecoming for him since he has spent much of his life working in films in India and making his fortune by trading in cigarettes and sugar in Bulgaria.

“Bullet” is a Bollywood blockbuster. Although it stars Sikandar, the cast of the action film is made up largely of Indian cinema favourites, and also includes an appearance by Natalia Gurkova, a former Miss Bulgaria.

The plot, too, is imported, dealing with world terrorism and problems in Kashmir. The script was written by an Indian, Salim Khan, and it was shot in India and Bulgaria.

Sikandar said he spent two million US dollars of his own money making the film, and hopes the Indian theme will help him recoup his investment.

"If I had made an Afghan film, with Afghan actors, director, producer, singers, language and so on, I wouldn't have been able to make money,” he said.

Sikandar now makes his home in Bulgaria. He named his production company after his oldest daughter, Diana, who also played a small role in the movie.

With this film under his belt, he says he’s ready to help revitalise his homeland’s film industry.

"I made the film 'Bullet' outside Afghanistan,” he said, “ but after this my main goal will be making Afghan films, which will be created with the help of Afghan Film."

Engineer Latif, the head of the state-run Afghan Film, was full of praise for Sikandar.

"Asad was able to prove himself as a tremendous actor, and he is a source of hope for us," Latif said. “If Asad Sikandar, with the talent he has, focuses his attention on the movies, I predict he will create a revolution in the cinema world.”

Some veteran Afghan film-makers were less enthusiastic about Sikandar’s arrival on the scene.

“Afghanistan's movie industry is in a state of economic crisis. Instead of spending two million dollars on his film, it would have been much better if he had spent it on the development of the Afghan movie industry,” said Qasem Karimi, a sound director at Afghan Film.

Sediq Barmak, director and producer of the internationally acclaimed Afghan film “Osama”, agreed.

"Asad could have made at least 10 films with that amount of money, but the movie has been a great means of introduction - he is now famous,” he said.

Still, Barmak praised Sikandar’s work in the film, "Asad is wonderful. Despite this being his first experience as an action director, his work is marvellous."

“My goal for the future is to make Afghan films of the same quality as Hollywood and Bollywood, but taking into account Afghan tradition,” said Sikandar. “This will bring some changes to Afghan cinema: we will reflect the truth about the country, the films will be entertaining, and we will have viewers all over the world.”

Sikandar reportedly has his next film already in mind. It is to be called “Buzkashi", after the colourful Afghan sport in which teams on horseback attempting to drag a headless animal carcass around a field at high speed.

Suhaila Muhseni is an IWPR staff writer in Kabul.