Kerala film director drops tainted Pak cricketer Asif from cast

KOTTAYAM - Debutant Kerala film director Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri has dropped Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Asif from the cast of his movie following his alleged role in a match fixing scandal in England.

Namboothiri, a renowned poet and music composer, confirmed this news in Kottayam on Wednesday.

Namboothiri said he did not want the film to be a part of any controversy between the two neighbouring nations and its people.

“What to do, he had to be dropped, it is not my fault that things have gone bad, I liked him very much, he is a nice chap, during photo session itself I liked him, one can do nothing if there are such controversies,” said Namboothiri.

“My plan is to screen this film in India and in Pakistan as well, but if something goes wrong in Pakistan it is not right, as per my picture I do not want any kind of controversies in between people or nations, but in industry controversies are okay,” he added.

Asif, 27, was due to star in a Malayalan-language film about a Pakistani cricketer who travels to Kerala to coach students.

‘Mazhavillin Attamvare’, Kaithapram’s maiden directorial venture was about to go on the sets in Kannur city in Kerala. By Juhan Samuel(ANI)