Joint films to boost peace process by Mansoor Malik
LAHORE: Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty have said the peace process between Pakistan and India will get a boost with the launching of co-productions between the two countries.
Speaking at a news conference at the Royal Palm Golf and Country Club on March 26, Mr. Kumar said some co-productions were being discussed with him, and a project might take shape within four or five months.
He also said that producer and director David Dhawan had signed Lollywood film actor Shan. “This means that something is going to happen soon,” he said. He also said these collaborations would expand with the passage of time.
Ms. Shetty, who joined the news conference a little late, also responded to a question saying she would definitely perform in a Pakistani movie if an offer came her way.
She said the troupe from India had come to promote love and fraternity between the two countries. People of both countries had feelings of love and brotherhood for each other which, however, they were not allowed to express due to differences spanning over half a century.
Mr. Kumar said most people in India wanted to come to Lahore and Pakistan but had some fears and reservations about the response here. “The peace concert last night vividly showed that the Pakistani crowd and its response here was great,” he said.
“Actually the response of people of Pakistan as well as our hosts was very encouraging right from our landing at Lahore airport.” He said he sincerely felt that the peace process would continue to progress if the politicians did not ‘forget about it’ after elections in India.
He said he had already announced that he would never work in a movie or participate in dialogues that could be regarded as anti-Pakistan. Currently, he said, he was working in director Anil Sharma’s movie Ab tumharey hawaley watan saathio which was not about Pakistan vs India but Pakistan with India vs terrorism. “My co-stars in India also have a similar feeling and would soon announce it.” Consequently, production of hate movies would end with the passage of time, he added.
However, answering the question about anti-Pakistan movies, Ms. Shetty denied the impression that any such movie was being produced by the Bollywood. “I don’t think that Bollywood is making or planning to make any movie that is against Pakistan.”
Saying that she would herself apologize if the feelings of Pakistani people got hurt by any movie, she added, if any such movie had been made in India, it was not intentional. “Sometimes film directors have to build scenes of war through locations and dialogues to help the audience understand a film situation.”
Regarding their visit to Lahore, Mr. Kumar said that for him it was like a dream come true. He said he and his parents belonged to Amritsar but he could not find a chance to travel to Lahore. “As soon as I got the opportunity, I agreed to perform at Lahore.”
He said his stay in Lahore was very brief as he had arrived here on Thursday afternoon and was supposed to take a flight for Delhi on Friday afternoon as his visa was expiring. “I would like to visit Lahore again, whenever I get a chance.”
Ms. Shetty said she had enjoyed her visit beyond all expectations. She, however, regretted that her trip was very short and she could not even go for shopping. “I will surely come back again and go for shopping.”
About her new movies, she said she was performing with Salman Khan and Abhishak Bachchan in a movie called Phir milain gey. With reference to her song UP, Bihar loot loon, Ms. Shetty said her next mission was to win the hearts of Pakistanis.
She parried a question regarding the increasing sensuality and sexuality in Indian movies. However, Sajid Khan, who hosts different comedy programmes in Indian, said: “Good sex also sells.”
About her gesture of kissing the Pakistani flag during a show last night, she said she had kissed the Pakistani flag from the bottom of her heart. She said this gesture was not part of the programme. “This is a feeling shared by most people in India.”
Mr. Kumar said he had got a boost of a life-time from the latest release Khakee. He also described Janwar and Sangharsh as a turning point in his acting career. Replying to a question, he said he had no intention to perform on the mini-screen.
Answering a question about cancellation of a dance sequence with a Pakistani model, Natasha Husain, Mr. Kumar said the sequence was dropped because he could not rehearse for the song.
“As I reached Lahore on March 25, and was supposed to perform the same night, I could not rehearse for the song. It takes four to five hours’ rehearsal to perform on a five-minute song.”
Mr. Kumar, however, regretted that the Pakistani model could be upset on deletion of the sequence. “For that, I personally apologize to her.” He also said he was surprised to see Lahore. “It is a clean city. There are no huge buildings and the residential houses have been built in a tasteful manner.”
Mr. Kumar said the Pakistani people were very hospitable and generous in applauding the performance. He said he had watched all one-day matches between Pakistan and India on TV and noticed that Pakistani crowd also clapped for Indian cricketers on their good performance.
He said he was also fond of watching Pakistani stage plays. For the last couple of weeks, he had been enjoying Naseebo Lal’s songs. About the question that his wife had stopped starring in movies, Mr. Kumar said it was her decision. He said his wife was now an interior designer.
Ms. Shetty said she would like Pakistani people to continue to watch her movies and extend to her love and affection. She also said the talent of both countries should also be exchanged.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/27/2004
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