Bollywood making film on 2016 Holey Artisan attack

According to recent Indian press reports, popular Bollywood filmmaker Hansal Mehta’s next film ‘Faraaz’ will be based on the 2016 Bangladesh terror attack at the capital’s Holey Artisan cafe. The makers of the film also announced the news on social media on Wednesday (August 4).

The action-thriller is being produced by filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and producer Bhushan Kumar.

Mehta, director of acclaimed web series ‘Scam 1992- The Harshad Mehta Story, said in a press statement that he is thrilled that Sinha and Kumar have fulfilled his three-year-long dream of making this film.

“‘Faraaz’ is a story of deep humanity and its ultimate triumph in the face of violent adversity. While it is based on true events, it is also a deeply personal story that I’ve held close to my heart for nearly 3 years.

“I’m glad Anubhav and Bhushanji are backing this story and enabling me to make this thrilling drama exactly the way I envisaged. It is exciting to collaborate with such diverse young talent on this labour of love. I can’t wait for the world to see this film,” Mehta said in the statement.

The film will mark late actor Shashi Kapoor's grandson, Zahaan Kapoor’s debut and will also feature Aditya Rawal, son of actors Paresh Rawal and Swaroop Sampat, who made his acting debut last year with the ZEE5 film 'Bamfaad'.

Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan posted her best wishes for her cousin Zahaan Kapoor’s debut on her verified Instagram profile.

“‘Faraaz’ is a human story based on one of the darkest days in modern history. It is a film that is close to our hearts. From launching new actors to getting the gaze of the film right, we have done our best to imbue this story with ingenuity while keeping it suspenseful and thrilling. It’s a film that will give the audience a deeply intimate look into what happened that night,” he added.

As per the official synopsis, ‘Faraaz’ will chronicle the events that took place on the night of July 1, 2016, in Dhaka where five young militants ravaged the upscale cafe and held over 50 people as hostages for nearly 12 dreadful hours.

Kumar said the intention of this film has been to stay true to the real-life chain of events.

“When one is making a film like ‘Faraaz’, the first mainstream film made on this horrific attack, from ensuring that we are authentic to the event to getting the right mix of talent, our endeavour is to truly do justice to the subject and elevate the material to a satiating and thrilling cinematic experience,” he said.

The shooting for the upcoming action-thriller began in June this year.

The film is jointly produced by Sinha’s Benaras Mediaworks, T-Series along with Mahana Films' Sahil Saigal, Sakshi Bhatt and Mazahir Mandasaurwala.

File photo of Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain | Photo: Faraaz Hossain Foundation

Moreover, the film’s protagonist and title are based on Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain. He was one of the victims of the Holey Artisan massacre. He was the grandson of late Transcom Group chairman Latifur Rahman.

A student at Emory University in Atlanta, US, Faraaz -- who was in Dhaka on summer holidays -- had gone to the restaurant that day with two foreign friends – Abinta Kabir, a US citizen and also a student of Emory University, and Tarishi Jain, an Indian and a student of the University of California, Berkeley.

According to freed hostages, the militants had allowed Faraaz to flee but he refused to leave and chose to stay with his friends as the attackers had decided to not release them after learning about the women’s nationality.

Previously, popular Bangladeshi filmmaker Mostofa Sarwar Frooki’s 2020 film 'Shonibar Bikel (Saturday Afternoon)' portraying the same terror attack did not receive clearance from Bangladesh Film Censor Board. This decision angered the Bangladeshi media industry though the film won several international awards.

"The board did not sanction permission for the film's exhibition, both at home or abroad, as it would disrupt internal security and also tarnish the country's global image," the censor board's vice chairman Nizamul Kabir told AFP back in January 2021.

Farooki told AFP, "Filmmakers should feel free to take inspiration from any incident that happens around them. They don't tarnish an image. They only interpret events. It's real world action that can damage an image."