Manning the red carpet

The gala screening of Kabul Express at DIFF 2006 was a red-carpet event with a difference. Instead of glamorous divas in designer gowns, the focus of attention was three casually dressed men.

John Abraham looked dashing in blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a leather jacket while Arshad Warsi and director Kabir Khan wore black suede jackets over their jeans.

All three were friendly and spent a lot of time on the red carpet talking to the media and fans. “I could not come last year for the screening of my film Water because I was hospitalised after falling ill in Kabul and am happy to be here now. I love Dubai because people here are so warm and friendly,'' said Abraham.

Warsi claimed that he is not quite comfortable on the red carpet but was happy that the film was being screened at DIFF.

“I want people from as many different cultures and countries to see this film and learn about the beauty of Afghanistan as well as the suffering of the people,'' he said.

Director Khan was content to let his stars do the talking. “The film is based on my personal experiences in Afghanistan, but I wrote the characters to suit the off-screen personalities of my actors,'' he said.

The glamour quotient on the red carpet was provided by Sameera Reddy looking pretty in a glittering yellow and green sari and sexy choli designed by Neeta Lulla. “Dubai is a very fashion-conscious city and I have come well prepared for my short visit to DIFF,'' she said.

Also seen on the red carpet were director Ramesh Sippy and his wife Kiran, dressed in an elegant brown sari. Among the Arab celebrities who attended the gala event were Hayfa Hussein, Abdul Aziz Al Jassim, Abdul Mohsen Al Nimr, Mohammad Al Dahaam, Sa'eed Al Faraj and Bassam Al Zawadi.

The film, based on the adventurous and dangerous journey of two Indian journalists through war-torn Afghanistan attracted film lovers of all ages and nationalities. Twelve-year-old Fatima Dilshad from Pakistan said she was there to see John Abraham in person, while Sameena Ebrahim was keen to see the film.

“I was in Toronto during the film festival there but could not get tickets for this film. I now work in Dubai and made sure to book my seat on the day the DIFF booking office opened,'' she said.

The film received prolonged applause from the audience. John Abraham and Kabir Khan also attended the aftershow party, where Abraham was once again surrounded by autograph hunters.