Breaking Barriers: Mudassar Aziz’s Cinematic Approach to Indo-Pakistani and Sino-Indian Relations

The sequel, Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, released on August 24, 2018, starred Sonakshi Sinha, replacing Diana Penty, which subtly implied that the people in China share similar experiences with the people of India. In a discussion, Mudassar Aziz reflected on his cinematic choices. He was happy that Happy Bhag Jayegi promoted peace with Pakistan, and with the sequel, created a comedy that didn’t portray any neighbor in a negative light. He emphasized the need for efforts to build harmony globally. The choice of China as a location was partly due to its status as an ‘unexplored’ location for Indian cinema. However, they faced practical challenges and shot a portion of the film in China, with Kuala Lumpur serving as a stand-in for the remainder. Aziz sees film as a medium to promote peace. He observed that many films highlight terrorism and conflict, often focusing on Pakistan as the antagonist. He wishes for the audience to appreciate the positive aspects of China as portrayed in Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi, as they did with Pakistan in the first film. He hopes for a shift in cinematic narratives away from war and toward peace.