Despite ban on Hindi films, Pakistan woos Bollywood (Lead)

Mumbai, Aug 24 (IANS) Even though official screenings of Hindi films are banned in Pakistan, Bollywood artistes continue to be in demand there.

Recently, well-known lyricist Gulzar was roped in to pen all the lyrics for a Pakistani love story 'Tere Liye'.

This is perhaps the first occasion when a Bollywood poet has contributed to the entire score of a Pakistani film. Not only that, composer Anu Malik has been roped in to do the tunes for Gulzar's lyrics in this venture.

All the recordings will be done in Mumbai, thereby dodging the great visa problem that arises every time Indian artistes desire to go across the border.

Talking about the unique project, Malik told IANS: 'I got the offer to do the songs through Gulzar uncle. He's the main reason why I'm doing the project. Our collaboration in 'Aks' and 'Filhaal' has been fantastic.

'As for the Pakistani presence, I'm happy that the gates are finally opening at the border. How does it matter whether the love story is Indian or Pakistani? Love is the same everywhere.'

Filmmakers like Shashi Ranjan and Mahesh Bhatt are all for Pakistani presence in Bollywood. Bhatt has repeatedly used Indian musicians and actors in his cinema and a part of his last production 'Aawarapan' was shot in Rawalpindi.

Now Ranjan is preparing to shoot his comedy 'Dhoom Dhadaka' in Islamabad.

Shashi said: 'Not just that, my film has a Pakistani co-producer Syma Khar, who's the sister-in-law of Tehmina Durrani, who wrote 'My Feudal Lord'.

'We need to stop taking a myopic view of cultural relations between the two countries: 'They did this to us, so we should do this to them.' We should be looking at enhancing cultural ties between the two countries.'