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Shamoon Abbasi, Sanam Saeed and others stuck in Thailand after movie shoot

Shamoon Abbasi, Sanam Saeed and others stuck in Thailand after movie shoot

The cast of Ishrat Made in China is stuck post pack-up due to coronavirus travel ban.
Updated 28 Mar, 2020

Due to the onset of the coronavirus outbreak and suspension of International flight operations, the cast of Ishrat Made in China is stuck in Thailand post pack-up.

The film, meant to be Mohib Mirza's debut directorial, had kicked off shooting before Covid-19 became a global pandemic.

Speaking to Images, Shamoon Abbasi said, “Half of the team of Ishrat Made In China directed by Mohib Mirza reached Thailand around the end of February. At the time, the coronavirus issue had not spread as a global pandemic.”

According to Abbasi, “The cast which includes HSY, Mani, Mustafa Choudhry, Ali Kazmi (who flew from Canada) and Sanam Saeed reached the location early. However, Sara Loren, Imam Said and I joined them later around early March.”

“Once we reached, we realised things were starting to get complicated, first it was just China and the west but eventually, the issue had reached Pakistan.”

"Mani, HSY, Ali Kazmi and Mustafa Chowdhry went back, but the rest of our flights were on the 25 March and by then, airports had been sealed. Now we’re waiting for the 4 April to head back," he added.

Sanam Saeed also confirmed the same to Images, sharing that they are "safe and sound".

A photo posted by Instagram (@instagram) on

The cast is currently four hours away from Bangkok, near a forest that is much cleaner and safer, according to Shamoon Abbasi.

Addressing criticism from his fans who are questioning why they left in the first place, he also stated, "Obviously we’re anxious and uncomfortable being away from our home and families knowing that the issue is getting worse in Pakistan."

"We want to create awareness that when the situation happened, we did not come here to vacation - we were booked for a movie shoot. We had come way before and none of us knew this would happen. Everything escalated in front of our eyes too quickly. But the shoot is over and we're hoping to get back home safely."

Ishrat Made in China was slated for a 2020 release.

Comments

Compulsive Mar 27, 2020 09:52pm
End of February whole world knew what was coming
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haris Mar 28, 2020 02:47am
sending a special flight tomorrow. Don't worry. But don't make a mole out of a mountain on your return.
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Laila Mar 28, 2020 03:41am
At a time like this I would much rather hear about my fellow non-celebrity citizens. How are they doing. Especially the ones who cant afford medicines, sanitation, food, water, soap or bare necessities let alone post their quarantine on social media because they don't own smartphones or other fancy gadgets.
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Alih Mar 28, 2020 01:53pm
Stay there and be safe till situation gets better.
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Zak Mar 28, 2020 03:36pm
Come home safely, all. InshAllah.
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Zak Mar 28, 2020 03:38pm
@Laila celebrity or not, they are human beings and Pakistanis. Because of them our media industry is picking up and earning the country some foreign exchange through exports.
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Ehsan Mar 28, 2020 11:24pm
Hope you can get home soon
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khaleel Mar 29, 2020 11:51am
You will definitely contact the corona virus if you enter Pakistan. Better to stay there as long as possible.
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