Director Kabir Khan's Phantom, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala and Siddharth Roy Kapur, is based on Hussain S Zaidi's book, Mumbai Avengers. An aftermath of the 26/11 terror attack on Mumbai, the book has four key characters based on the four globally wanted terrorists - Hafiz Saeed, David Headley, Sajid Mir and Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi - who're also portrayed in the Saif Ali Khan-Katrina Kaif action thriller.


David Coleman Headley is an American terrorist of Pakistani origin. He conspired with the Lashkar-e-Taiba Islamist organisation and Pakistani intelligence officers in plotting the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Under the direction of Lashkar chiefs, Headley performed five spying missions in Mumbai to scout targets for the attacks that killed 168 people. At the trial of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, an alleged co-conspirator, Headley gave detailed information about the participation of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in the attacks. Since his arrest and guilty plea, Headley has cooperated with US and Indian authorities, giving information about his associates. On January 24, 2013, a US federal court sentenced him to 35 years in prison for his role in the Mumbai attacks.


Sajid Mir, who was allegedly Headley's handler, has vanished and is said to be in Lahore.


Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is an internationally designated terrorist and the chief of Jama'at-ud-Da'wah that reportedly operates mainly from Pakistan. The United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Russia and Australia have banned JuD and the United Nations has placed sanctions against it after declaring it a terrorist organisation in December 2008. Said to be one of the masterminds of November 26, 2008, attack in Mumbai, Hafeez also has a bounty of $10 million announced by the US in April 2010 for his alleged role in the attacks.

Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, another mastermind of 26/11 is also reportedly living in Lahore. A top leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, he currently serves as Supreme Commander of operations in Kashmir and as a member of LeT's General Council. On December 3, 2008 Indian officials named him as one of four possible major planners behind the 2008 Mumbai terror tragedy. The Most Wanted Man on NIA's list, he reportedly offered to pay Ajmal Kasab's family Rs 150,000 for his participation in the attacks. Pakistan confirmed the arrest but refused to hand over any of its citizens to Indian authorities. Their officials stated that any Pakistani citizen accused of involvement in the attack would be tried in Pakistan. Lakhvi was released from jail on bail on April 10, 2015.

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