VHP disrupts Pitt film shoot in Indian ‘Abbottabad’

The ongoing shooting of Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow’s film Zero Dark 30 was wound up for the day when Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists stormed the sets in Manimajra town protesting against the hoisting of Pakistan’s flag on Friday.

Led by Vijay Singh Bhardwaj, they disrupted the shooting, which was taking place in a mosque, and removed the signboards put in Urdu on a few shops, a crew member said.

They raised slogans against Pakistan and removed its flags put in place to recreate the actual spot in Abbottabad where US commandos had killed the al Qaeda leader. They alleged that Bigelow had not taken permission to create ‘a Pakistan in Chandigarh’.

“They (the crew) are showing Chandigarh as Pakistan, this is not acceptable. Why should any place in India be converted to look like Pakistan? We will never allow Pakistan’s flag flying at places in the city,” Bharadwaj said.

The activists went to the police to register a complaint against Bigelow. Her team was huddled with officers seeking to dispel the propaganda against the film. She later said no Pakistan flag will be put in place at the shooting areas. Station house officer Rajesh Shukla too assured that Pakistan’s flag will not be permitted at the shooting locales after which they dispersed. No case has been registered, he said.

A VHP spokesman said as many as eight countries, including Pakistan and Afghanistan, had denied Bigelow permission to shoot fearing attacks from Muslim fundamentalists.   
    (With agency inputs)