Shahid Kapoor’s ‘Haider’ Co-Star Turns Real-Life Kashmiri Militant; Gets Killed in a Military Encounter
15-year old Saqib Bilal had been recently killed in a clash between the militants and the Indian forces in Srinagar’s Mujgund area on December 9.
It is said that sometime Cinema reflects Life, and sometimes vice-versa. A few years back, director Vishal Bharadwaj delivered one of his finest film in Haider. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Tabu and Shraddha Kapoor, Haider was an adaptation of the Shakespearean play, Hamlet, and was set against the backdrop of Kashmiri militancy. While the movie got a lot of acclaim for the direction and the performances, Haider was also accused by some quarters for having pro-militant sentiment. Shahid Kapoor Debunks Reports of Stomach Cancer Says I'm Totally Fine.
Now an actor from the film, 15-year old Saqib Bilal had been recently killed in a clash between the militants and the Indian forces in Srinagar’s Mujgund area on December 9. Bilal was believed to be a member of militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, along with his friend Muddasir Rashid Parray, who was also killed in the firing.
It is sad to hear that such young boys are enticed into militancy and then killed even before they reach the prime of their lives. However, for the family members of both the boys, they are perceived to have achieved martyrdom. Nearly the entire town Hajin, where the boys lived, turned up for the funeral to mourn for them. While speaking to The Wire, Saqib's uncle told them, "They fought like lions. This is not a mourning, this is a joyous moment." Mujgund Encounter: Three Terrorists Killed, 5 Jawans Injured Near Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir.
As some articles report, Saqib has been a football enthusiast like most of the kids in his village. He was also very good in theatre, which is why he landed a cameo role in Haider. As per his parents, he was also very good in studies. However, he was easily seduced into militancy like many of the men in his village, and a picture of him holding a gun was doing rounds on social media.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 12, 2018 08:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).