Saif-Kat Phantom (new pic pg 1)

Kabir Khan's post-Bajrangi Bhaijaan counter-terrorism drama Phantom which releases on 28 August has Saif Ali Khan playing an army officer out to seek revenge on the terrorists who masterminded the 26/11 attack on Mumbai.

The film is based on author S Hussain Zaidi's novel Mumbai Avengers.

In plot, mood and intent Phantom is completely antithetical to Bajrani Bhaijaan.

Says a source close to Kabir Khan, "While in Bajrangi Bhaijaan Kabir champions the cause of cross-border friendship by showing an Indian Hanuman Bhakt helping a lost Pakistani girl find her way back home, Phantom will see Saif track down and kill Pakistani ISI agents who masterminded the Mumbai attacks."

According to sources, "While Bajrangi and Salman would endear themselves to Pakistan, Phantom and Saif are hardly going to make our neighbouring country happy."

While refraining from commenting on the content of either film Kabir Khan says, "All I'll say is Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Phantom are two completely different films. While Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a full-on masala film with lots of music and singing Phantom has no lip-sync songs. It's intended as a far more serious exploration of a political issue."