Karachi recreated in India for a film

Since shooting in Pakistan is next to impossible due to stringent laws in place as well as security threats, an Indian film titled Tere Bin Laden decided to recreate Karachi on Indian soil. Directed by Abhishek Sharma, the film is a tongue-in-cheek comedy about an ambitious young news reporter from Pakistan who is desperate to migrate to the US in pursuit of the American dream.

The film required everything to authentically look like it was truly
Pakistani right from the locations, costume design, language et al. Abhishek as well as the producers made sure that no stones were left unturned to try and get permission from the neighbouring country but all their efforts were unfruitful.

A production source says, “The film was shot in areas of Mumbai and Hyderabad which bore close resemblance to Karachi. To add to the authenticity, Pakistani hoardings, products and even costumes were flown down.”

The informer further reveals, “The costumes were brought in from Pakistan, the costume designer, who went to markets in Pakistan that women normally do not venture out into just to source authentic clothes for the film. Typical radio sets, hoardings and products were also brought to the shoot location.”

Additionally a crucial scene in the film required a truck—which is from a typical art on trucks found in Pakistan where drivers decorate their trucks like brides.

Tere Bin Laden stars Pakistani heartthrob Ali Zafar, who has cut several successful albums that have been a hit in India too. A Pakistani actor coming to India to shoot is also significant as until recently getting an Indian visas for Pakistani artistes has become quite a cumbersome task post the 26/11 terror attacks.