Asim Abbasi’s Cake received great love and appreciation from the audiences all over the world and has now become Pakistan’s official submission for Oscar consideration in the Foreign Language Film Award category at the 91st Academy Awards. However, there’s at least one person who isn’t happy with this turn of events.
Ex-wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Reham Khan, wrote on Twitter that the reason why Cake  was selected is because producer Zulfi Bukhari is a close friend of the prime minister.
“Who says you can’t have your ‘Cake’ and eat it too? Zulfi Bokhari friend of the PM now gets his film selected to be sent in as Pakistan’s entry to the Oscar’s too,†she tweeted.
Who says you can't have your 'cake' & eat it too?
Zulfi Bokhari friend of the PM now gets his film selected to be sent in as Pakistan's entry to the Oscar's too.— Reham Khan (@RehamKhan1) September 19, 2018
Read More:Â Has Pakistan produced an Oscar worthy film this year?
Lead actor Adnan Malik was quick to respond to the accusation. “What an odd & unfair assertion, completely disregarding the integrity of the respectable Oscar committee members with diverse political ideologies, as well as the calibre of the film itself, which was critically acclaimed across the board (including 4 stars in the guardian, U.K.)” he wrote.
What an odd & unfair assertion, completely disregarding the integrity of the respectable Oscar committee members with diverse political ideologies, as well as the calibre of the film itself, which was critically acclaimed across the board (including 4 stars in the guardian, U.K.) https://t.co/PXROHzuIu4
— adnanmalik (@adnanmalik) September 19, 2018
Adnan’s tweet was followed by a tweet from Kamila Shamsie who was on the selection committee which chose Cake as Pakistan’s submission for Oscar. I was on the selection committee. I had no idea (and wouldn’t have thought it relevant if I had) that anyone involved was a friend of the PM. I just knew ‘Cake’ was the best movie in the running,” she wrote.
I was on the selection committee. I had no idea (and wouldn't have thought it relevant if I had) that anyone involved was a friend of the PM. I just knew 'Cake' was the best movie in the running. https://t.co/Ydb1BV9NwF
— Kamila Shamsie (@kamilashamsie) September 19, 2018
Read More:‘Cake’ becomes Pakistan’s nominated entry for the Oscars
Director Asim Abbasi also tweeted:
Ugh. I never tweet. To think I have spent the day talking about that wannabe GQ model @sayedzbukhari — but before I close this topic forever and ever, here is a little apolitical bedtime backstory for ya’ll. #CakeTheFilm pic.twitter.com/lwNHFtxamj
— Asim Abbasi (@IllicitusProduc) September 19, 2018
Earlier this year, Asim also received the Best Director award at the UK Asian Film Festival London for Cake. Perhaps Reham hasn’t watched the movie yet? What are your thoughts?
