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Bollywood
aims Punjab-Punjab coproduction
Mahesh Bhatt aims to make a Punjabi movie covering both sides
Punjab
Emraan Hashmi, Sonal Chauhan praise Lahoris
By Ali Waqar
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One
of the Bollywood icons Emraan Hashmi, a "new arrival" in
the Indian film industry Sonal Chauhan, and Pakistan-familiar film
producer and director Mahesh Bhatt visited Lahore for the premier
gala of Indian Jannat held in Lahore.
Though the main purpose of the visit of this delegation, which landed
in Lahore at Allama Iqbal International Airport, was to attend the
world level launched Jannat's premier show-as the film is also being
screened in Pakistani cinemas at the same time - but Bhatt also tried
to open some more talks on co-productions with Lollywood filmmakers.
Exclusively talking to Instep, Bhatt stressed upon the need to have
more and more joint ventures and across border screening of Indian
and Pakistan films.
"This is not first time that I have come to Pakistan," he
said, adding, "Whenever I come, I try to extend the Bollywood-Lollywood
cooperation." He said there was need for more joint ventures.
"Particularly, there must be films made by and for the Punjab,
on both sides." |
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| Bhatt
said he himself had started a co-production in Punjabi, covering both
sides' Punjab. "This Punjabi film would extend the ties between
the Punjab on both sides and can help in exploring the rich culture
on both sides," he viewed. He said though there was cooperation
of both sides' government in the screening of the movies but this
should be at higher level to further improve ties. He was of the view
that Lollywood could have gotten an opportunity to learn from Bollywood,
one of the biggest film markets of the world. There was no risk and
the best could survive in a best way from Pakistan too. He cited the
starring of Pakistani actress in Bollywood movies, playback singing
by a number of Pakistan singers. "Now, my daughter Pooja Bhatt
is making her own film and she has picked a young talent Mona Lisa
from Karachi," he added. |
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Emraan,
on his first visit to Lahore, seemed quite impressed by the kind
of warm reception given by Lahoris. "This is nothing but a
joy trip to explore Lahore," he said, adding, "There seems
no difference between the two sides' culture. The roads of Lahore
are not different from New Delhi's."
Emraan, who considered himself above all his competitor heroes in
Bollywood because of his confidence, said no one was bigger in the
industry except those enjoy confidence. "And I have that confidence
so I am above Shah Rukh Khan and others."
Emraan, who is known because of his particular hottish roles and
also known as "serial kisser" in Bollywood because of
such roles, said he also wanted to do something different character
and Jannat was one of the movies that provide him this opportunity.
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Sonal
Chauhan, who has played leading role in Jannat, co-produced by Pakistani
from producer Suhail Khan, was also overwhelmed on the kind of response
given by Pakistani fans. "I think this relationship must be extended,"
Sonal expressed. "I consider myself among those lucky Indian
heroines those visited Pakistan," she said, adding, "This
is also a great pleasure that even my first film is being screened
in Lahore too."
A warm welcome at the Jannat premier, with
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| hundreds
of youth-boys and girls-blocking Abbot Road near Gulistan Cinema of
Lahore's cinema market, proved an example to the Bollywood stars about
their fans in this provincial capital. |
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In
Pakistan, the Indian movies' viewers are in millions. Every cable
network operator has to air Indian movies for doing a successful
business. Millions of CDs (Computer Disks) and DVDs of Indian are
sold like hot cakes, every time.
Though the screening of Indian films in Pakistani cinemas was started
during General Pervez Musharraf regime but this business started
taking some boost in last one year. Awarapan, Taj Mahal, Welcome,
Race, Taare Zameen Par, and a number of other Indian movies have
been screened in Pakistan, especially in Lahore, in the last one
year. While, Khuda Kay Liye is the first Pakistani movie that has
been screened and praised in Indian cinemas in the same time.
A number of Pakistani filmmakers are aiming to do some joint ventures
with Bollywood but there is also a strong element of Lollywood stakeholders
that is feared by the rocking Indian film industry believing that
the arrival of Bollywood would sallow the little Lollywood. The
debate is going on with the continuous screening of Indian movies
in Pakistan and now with the starting of some co-productions in
like the recently coming movie Jannat.
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