Agent Vinod — Mission: impossible

The Indian James Bond can disarm a bomb while flying a helicopter, dodge bullets from deadly assassins and save his country from nuclear disaster. But getting into cinemas in neighbouring Pakistan has proved to be an impossible feat.

Pakistan banned the Indian film Agent Vinod a few days before its scheduled release, likely because of its critical portrayal of the country's generals and spies. They are shown providing support for the Taliban in Afghanistan and scheming to set off a nuclear suitcase bomb in archenemy India's capital.

"It was our judgment that it should not be allowed to be screened," the vice chairman of Pakistan's Film Censor Board said on Monday. "It falls under the negative codes of our censor."

The film, which was scheduled to open last week in Lahore and Karachi, likely hit too close to home because it echoes real criticism of Pakistan — admittedly, in the exaggerated style of India's popular Bollywood film industry.

"Agent Vinod is for Indians, but it is not against Pakistanis," Saif Ali Khan, the movie's lead actor and co-producer, told IANS. "But I understand if they get upset because we are beating them up quite often in the film."