All aboard the gravy train-Pakistani acto

All aboard the gravy train

For most Pakistani actors, the desire to make it in the Indian film industry overrides political animosity

Farhana Farook

Bollywood has become a huge draw for actors all over the world and Lollywood is no exception. That explains why Pakistani actors are looking to tap into the Indian film industry. That they really haven't been able to take centre stage yet is no deterrent.
While Akbar Khan's magnum opus 'Taj Mahal-The Eternal Love Story' has introduced Pakistani debutante Soniya Jehan, John Mathew Mathan's 'Shikhar' is set to launch actor Javed Sheikh. Mathan feels Sheikh was the right choice to play Shahid Kapur's father, as "his physicality matched that of his screen son." Ask him why he chose a Pakistani actor and he says, "His is a face without an image."
In the recent past we also had Muammar Rana debuting in Shashi Ranjan's 'Dobara'. Rana says, "Technically, Indian films are far superior. Also, Pakistani film budgets do not stretch beyond Rs 10 million. We are also more rigid compared to Indian censors. But now, we do allow rain songs."
More vociferous was actor Meera's debut in Mahesh Bhatt's 'Nazar'. She not only created a furore when she kissed co-actor Ashmit Patel, but was also emotive about her peace crusade, "Cinema can bridge the gap between Pakistan and India. I would like to dedicate 'Nazar' to good relations between India and Pakistan." Close on her heels, we have the 'Aishwarya Rai of Pakistan' — Reema, hobnobbing with the industry biggies for roles. She cites,"thawing ties between the two nations" as precipitating this move.
While most aspirants claim to cross the perimeter in pursuit of art, economics and international exposure are underlying forces. Reports point that "low production quality and slouch in Lollywood cinema" are catalysts to this immigration.
Pooja Bhatt, who'll screen her film 'Holiday' at the Kara Film Festival in Pakistan, says, "The Indian film industry is a world market. That Meera had the audacity to push hard should be applauded instead of sniggered at. She was wasted in 'Nazar'. I would have used her beautifully in a film like 'Jism'. Adds Bhatt, "Pakistani actors are great fans of Hindi cinema. For Meera, SRK is more important than Tom Cruise." Mathew seconds this, "If the film does well, Javed will do so too!"
"We both realised that India and Pakistan are very similar, except that we have different armies!" Matthew signs off.