Akbar Khan to play Saddam Hussein, says it`s challenging

New Delhi: Actor-filmmaker Akbar Khan will return to the big screen essaying the role of late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in an upcoming docu-drama ‘From President to Prisoner’. He says he is looking forward to the project, based on Aziz Burney`s book ‘Safar Zindagi Ka’.

Khan, who was last seen as Chandan Roy Sanyal`s disciplinarian dad in ‘F.A.L.T.U.’, is quite upbeat about the challenge of playing Saddam Hussein. "It`s a very challenging role. The world opinion on Saddam Hussein is divided into two parts. For half the world, he was a hero and for the other half, he was a villain. I am looking forward to playing this role," said the youngest brother of Sanjay Khan and late Feroze Khan. He debuted as an actor with ‘Anjaan Raahen’ in 1974 and featured in films like ‘Haadsaa’, which was also his directorial debut, and ‘Akarshan’. He also produced and directed ‘Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story’ in 2005. ‘From President to Prisoner’ will be produced and directed by Suresh Kohli, who felt Khan is the perfect choice for the role due to his physical resemblance with Hussein. "When the idea came up to make a film on Saddam Hussein, I kept Akbar Khan`s photo next to Saddam`s and everyone agreed and said that he would be the best person for this role. Akbar agreed too. Now we are working the logistics to start and launch this film," Kohli said in a press statement. The movie will go on floors in September 2011 and will be shot in Iraq. IANS