Mahesh Bhatt film to be released in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's next venture "Jannat", which takes a close look at match fixing in cricket, is likely to be released in Pakistan on May 2.
    
Emraan Hashmi, who plays a leading role, is expected to attend the Pakistani premiere of the film. "Jannat" was initially slated for a May 16 release but the date was advanced to avoid a clash with other releases.
    
"Yes, there should be two premieres -- in Mumbai and Pakistan, respectively. The Pakistani premiere is scheduled exactly a day before its release since we are planning a
simultaneous release there. I am looking forward to visiting Pakistan this time," Hashmi was quoted as saying by Instep magazine.
    
Shot extensively in Cape Town and Mumbai, "Jannat" revolves around the character played by Hashmi  Arjun, who is a bookie.
    
Though both Mahesh Bhatt and his producer brother Mukesh Bhatt say the film is not about sports but about youngsters falling prey to consumerism, it has a scene which seems to be a take on Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer's mysterious death.
    
Woolmer, 58, was found dead in his hotel room a day after Pakistan was eliminated from the World Cup in Jamaica in March 2007.
    
"The film is not about Bob Woolmer and we are definitely not hinting at what happened to him, who killed him and who were behind the tragedy," said Kunal Deshmukh, the director of the film.
    
Hashmi has a huge fan following in Pakistan. His earlier releases in the country  "Awarapan", "Gangster" and "The Killer" -- ran to packed houses. He also features in a local cell-phone commercial.