Set in post 26/11 scenario, Phantom, directed by Kabir Khan with Saif Ali Khan and Katrina Kaif in the lead, revolves around global terrorism and demanded Pakistan as a backdrop for certain scenes. While Kabir was keen to shoot this film, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, across the border, the unit felt that it wouldn't be safe to do so. Cinematographer Aseem Mishra says, “We created Pakistan in Malerkotla in Punjab. Kabir, the production designer and I narrowed down Malerkotla because of its mosque, local people, narrow lanes and overall architecture, which creates the verisimilitude of a town from Pakistan. We dressed it up with posters and flags etc. I have given this section a little greenish warm feel to it. We got some really beautiful evening light in some of the scenes. When you see the film, it all looks so real.“

Interestingly, Hollywood filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow too had recreated Pakistan in Chandigarh and other locations in Punjab when she shot her film, Zero Dark Thirty (2013) here.

Phantom, presented by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment Pvt Ltd and UTV Motion Pictures, releases August 28.