MSF Sues Bollywood Over 'Dangerous' Film

A "dangerous, misleading and wrong" Bollywood film is facing legal action from an international aid charity, amid claims it could endanger lives.

Phantom, which was released today, is the story of a Medicins Sans Frontieres aid worker who helps a disgraced Indian soldier to assassinate Pakistani extremists accused of orchestrating the 2008 bombings in Mumbai.

The movie's trailer shows the aid worker, played by the British-Indian actress Katrina Kaif, firing pistols and rifles – but MSF has claimed this is a "dangerous representation" of its organisation, as none of its staff carry guns.

In a statement, MSF said it had not been consulted over the Hindi film and stressed it was not associated with the production in any way.

A spokesperson added: "The only way we safely work in places such as Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen, where there is active fighting, is by explaining to every group on the ground that we are independent, neutral and impartial and interested only in providing medical care to people who need it.

"Any portrayal that suggests MSF does anything other than provide medical care could endanger our patients, staff, our ability to work in places where people might not otherwise have access to healthcare and undermine our reputation."

MSF insists it has a "strict no guns policy" in all clinics, and does not hire armed guards.

The humanitarian agency boasts a network of thousands of medical professionals in more than 70 countries – including doctors, surgeons, nurses and psychiatrists.

It has contacted the film's production team while the legal action gets under way.

Phantom has already been banned by a court in Pakistan.