Director Faruk Kabir is busy giving finishing touches to Khuda Haafiz, headlined by Vidyut Jammwal. As we steal a few minutes from his jam-packed day for a chat, the filmmaker reveals that the story — which is inspired by a real-life incident in 2008 when a man set out to rescue his wife who was abducted and forced into human trafficking in the UAE — remained with him over the years.

"I had read a newspaper article about it in 2008, and it deeply moved me. I traced one of the journalists and did some research on my own. The first draft was developed from 15 newspaper articles and NGO research papers on human trafficking," recounts Kabir, who also tracked down the subject of the story. "I did not meet the lady, I don't know whether she is with her husband anymore. But I met the husband who became my muse. He felt he could trust me and opened up on a personal level."