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Kabul Express

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Kabul Express
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKabir Khan
Written byKabir Khan
Produced byAditya Chopra
StarringJohn Abraham
Arshad Warsi
Salman Shahid
Hanif Humgaam
Linda Arsenio
CinematographyAnshuman Mahaley
Edited byAmitabh Shukla
Music bySongs:
Raghav Sachar
Background Score:
Julius Packiam
Production
company
Distributed byYash Raj Films
Release dates
  • 11 September 2006 (2006-09-11) (Toronto)[1]
  • 15 December 2006 (2006-12-15) (India)
Running time
106 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

Kabul Express is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language adventure thriller film written and directed by Kabir Khan in his feature directorial debut, produced by Aditya Chopra and starring John Abraham, Arshad Warsi, Salman Shahid, Hanif Humgaam, and Linda Arsenio. Set in post-Taliban Afghanistan, the narrative follows two Indian journalists who, while reporting from Kabul, are taken hostage by a former Taliban soldier, leading to a perilous journey across the war-torn country.[2]

The film marked Khan's transition from documentary to feature filmmaking and was based in part on his and fellow journalist Rajan Kapoor’s real-life experiences in Afghanistan. Kabul Express was shot entirely on location in Afghanistan, making it one of the first Indian films to be filmed there after the fall of the Taliban regime.[3] The cinematography was handled by Anshuman Mahaley, with editing by Amitabh Shukla and music composed by Raghav Sachar.

Premiering at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, Kabul Express received praise for its visuals, themes, and performances, though it also generated controversy for its depiction of Afghan ethnic groups. It was released theatrically on 15 December 2006 and became a moderate commercial success, earning approximately ₹110 million (US$2.5 million) worldwide.[4]

Plot

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Indian journalists Suhel Khan and Jai Kapoor arrive in post-Taliban Afghanistan to document the condition of the country following the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. Based in Kabul and working for Star News, they begin their journey through the country accompanied by Khyber, a local taxi driver who has witnessed decades of conflict. During their travels, they encounter Jessica Beckham, an American photojournalist working for Reuters, who joins them in covering the aftermath of the war.

While leaving the village of Ishtar, the group is held at gunpoint by Imran Khan Afridi, a former Taliban fighter who has disguised himself as a woman and hidden in the back of their vehicle. Imran forces them to drive him toward the Pakistan border, threatening violence if they do not comply. Along the way, the group travels through war-ravaged towns and observes the devastation left behind by years of conflict.

Jessica discovers that Imran is actually Wassim Chaudhry, a Pakistani army officer who had infiltrated Afghanistan during the Soviet–Afghan War and later aligned with the Taliban. The group becomes increasingly tense as Imran’s past and motives are revealed. At one point, the journalists attempt to escape, but Imran regains control. They are eventually stopped by American soldiers, leading to a brief standoff in which Suhel forces Imran to grant them an interview.

The group continues to the border, making a stop at Imran’s former village, where he briefly reunites with his wife and daughter. Soon after, they are ambushed by Mujahideen fighters. Imran urges the others to escape while he stays behind to fight. He later reaches the Pakistan border alone and pleads with the Pakistani soldiers to let him in. They refuse, and Imran is shot and killed while trying to cross into Pakistan.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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Kabul Express was the feature film debut of Kabir Khan, who had previously directed documentaries in Afghanistan. The story was loosely based on his own experiences and those of his colleague Rajan Kapoor in post-Taliban Afghanistan. After several production houses declined to back the project, Yash Raj Films agreed to produce the film under Aditya Chopra.[7]

Casting

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John Abraham and Arshad Warsi were cast as the two Indian journalists. Pakistani actor Salman Shahid was selected to play Imran Khan Afridi, while Hanif Humgaam portrayed the Afghan taxi driver, Khyber. American actress Linda Arsenio played Jessica Beckham, a photojournalist. The casting brought together talent from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the United States to reflect the film’s international scope.[3]

Filming

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Filming began in September 2005 and lasted for 45 days in and around Kabul. Kabul Express was the first international film to be shot in Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban and the first Hindi film in the country since Khuda Gawah (1992). The production coincided with a rise in Taliban activity, and the crew received death threats from insurgents. The Afghan government responded by assigning 60 armed commandos to protect the unit during the shoot.[3][8]

Reception

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Box office

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Kabul Express opened to a positive response at multiplexes. According to Box Office India, the film grossed approximately ₹12.25 crore (US$1.4 million) in India, making it a moderate commercial success.[4]

Critical response

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India

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In India, Kabul Express received mixed reviews. Taran Adarsh of IndiaFM rated the film 2.5 out of 5 stars, calling it "a well-crafted thriller" and writing that it was "aimed at the elite and the thinking audience," though he noted that the use of English and Afghani languages might limit its reach beyond urban centers.[9] Khalid Mohamed of Hindustan Times gave it 2 out of 5 stars, stating, "You expected far more spleen and substance from this fact-inspired adventure thriller," and criticized its pacing despite praising the editing.[10]

International

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Kabul Express was screened as a Special Presentation at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival, where it received mixed international reviews.[11] Phelim O'Neill of The Guardian rated it 3 out of 5 stars and noted that while the film's message was handled simplistically, the war-ravaged landscape conveyed a stronger impact than the script.[12] Robert Koehler of Variety described it as "a lame revival of buddy road pics" and felt that it "trivializes global politics," though he acknowledged the international appeal of its casting.[13] Anil Sinanan of Time Out criticized the film's tone and performances, noting that "only the cinematography of a stunningly beautiful landscape ravaged by war" lent it any lasting impression.[14]

Accolades

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Award Date of the ceremony Category Recipients Result Ref.
Asian Festival of First Films 29 November–6 December 2006 Swarvoski Trophy for Best Director Kabir Khan won [15][16]
Foreign Correspondents Association Purple Orchid Award Kabul Express won
Filmfare Awards 17 February 2007 Best Background Score Julius Packiam nom [17]
National Film Awards 2 September 2008 Best Debut Film of a Director Kabir Khan won [18]

Soundtrack

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Kabul Express
Soundtrack album by
Raghav Sachar
Released17 November 2006
RecordedYRF Studios
Mumbai, India
GenreFilm soundtrack
Length34:19
LabelYRF Music
ProducerAditya Chopra
Raghav Sachar chronology
Kabul Express
(2006) 		Sunday
(2008)

The album featuring 9 tracks including three remix and two instrumental. All tracks were composed by Raghav Sachar, one instrumental was composed by Julius Packiam. Lyrics were penned by Aditya Dhar.[19]

The film score was composed by Julius Packiam.

Track listing
No.TitleSinger(s)Length
1."Kabul Fiza"Raghav Sachar4:00
2."Banjar"Shubha Mudgal4:15
3."Keh Raha Mera Dil"Raghav Sachar4:11
4."Yeh Main Aaya Kahaan Hoon"Raghav Sachar4:07
5."Kabul Fiza" (Remix)Raghav Sachar3:24
6."Banjar" (Lounge Mix)Sunidhi Chauhan4:08
7."Banjar" (Revisited)KK4:17
8."Kabul Express Theme" (Composed By: Julius Packiam)Instrumental4:29
9."Kabul Fiza Theme"Instrumental2:08
Total length:34:19

Controversy

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On 6 January 2007, the Government of Afghanistan banned Kabul Express, despite having supported its production and permitted its filming in the country.[20] The ban, issued by the Afghan Ministry of Culture, followed public protests over the film's alleged portrayal of the Hazara community, an ethnic Shia minority that has historically faced persecution under Taliban rule.

In the film, the Hazaras are referred to by characters—including an Afghan crew member and a former Taliban fighter—as "worse than the Taliban," "bandits," "dangerous," and "savages." These characterizations led to widespread criticism from Hazara civil society groups, who described the depictions as offensive and racist. The Ministry cited these concerns in its decision to prohibit the film’s screening in Afghanistan.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Hernandez, Eugene (22 August 2006). "TORONTO '06: The Complete Lineup – 352 Films". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Kabir Khan recalls shooting Kabul Express in Afghanistan amid death threats: '60 armed commandos landed up on our doorstep'". The Indian Express. 14 May 2022. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Ramesh, Randeep (18 December 2006). "Death threats fail to halt Bollywood's Kabul road movie". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Box Office 2006". Box Office India. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. ^ Abraham, John (18 December 2006). "I like doing films that are on the edge and crazy - Interviews" (Interview). Interviewed by The Asian Today. Midlands: The Asian Today. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  6. ^ Syed Firdaus Ashraf (15 December 2006). "Meet the only woman in Kabul Express". Rediff. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. ^ India, Penguin (12 December 2019). "An Interview with Kabir Khan- An Excerpt from 'Directors' Diaries 2'". Penguin Random House India. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Kabir Khan recalls shooting Kabul Express in Afghanistan amid death threats: '60 armed commandos landed up on our doorstep'". The Indian Express. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  9. ^ Adarsh, Taran (15 December 2006). "Kabul Express Review 2.5/5 | Kabul Express Movie Review | Kabul Express 2006 Public Review | Film Review". Bollywood Hungama. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  10. ^ Mohamed, Khalid (15 December 2006). "Khalid Mohamed reviews Kabul Express". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  11. ^ Pais, Arthur J. (20 December 2006). "Kabul Express limps in US, UK". Rediff. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  12. ^ O'Neill, Phelim (15 December 2006). "Kabul Express". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  13. ^ Koehler, Robert (12 September 2006). "Kabul Express". Variety. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ^ Sinanan, Anil (12 December 2006). "Kabul Express". Time Out Worldwide. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Asian Festival of 1st Films 2007 & 2009". Asian Festival of First Films. Archived from the original on 11 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Kabul Express continues to gather accolades around the world". Yash Raj Films. 3 December 2006. Archived from the original on 23 April 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Nominations for the 52nd Filmfare Awards". web.archive.org. 10 February 2007. Retrieved 14 May 2025.
  18. ^ "54th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 October 2018. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Kabul Express - Haunting, lilting and enchanting". Yash Raj Films. 17 November 2006. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
  20. ^ Syed Firdaus Ashraf (9 January 2007). "Kabul Express director shocked by ban". Rediff. Archived from the original on 10 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  21. ^ Agence France Presse (8 January 2007). "Kabul Express banned in Afghanistan". The Indian Express. Kabul. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
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