Junaid gets death threat for shaving beard

LAHORE: Star singer Junaid Jamshed, who bid farewell to the music world due to his religious leanings, has been getting death threats after he shaved his beard to work in a movie directed and produced by Shoaib Mansoor.

Indian film legend Naseeruddin Shah is also starring in the movie. A very upset Junaid Jamshed told Daily Times on Thursday that he was being chased by strangers and getting death threats after he shaved his beard to work in the movie Khuda Key Liya. They have even threatened to kill his family.

“We know your whereabouts and can kill you at any time,” an anonymous caller said. Jamshed who has recently signed the film, said that after receiving these threats he was having second thoughts on whether he should stand by his decision. “ I am reviewing it and might not do this film,” he added. Junaid gave up singing a few years ago, grew a beard and joined the Tableeghi Jamaat, saying singing did not fit into his lifestyle anymore. After a considerable gap, noted producer Shoaib Mansoor offered him a role in his movie.

Mansoor told Daily Times that the subject of the film was serious and was not the kind of a movie in which a hero runs after a heroine in gardens.

Mansoor said that Naseeruddin Shah would play the role of a Muslim scholar in the movie. Shah wanted to avoid media hype and therefore did not talk to reporters.