Akbar beats Shah Jahan | DesPardes.com

APRIL 23 - Legendary filmmaker's most sensational product Mughal-e-Azam hit the marquee in Pakistan theatres on April 22 at 11 am, turning into the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan after 41 years. The film beat back the angry Akbar Khan's film Taj Mahal by three days to see the light of the projector in Pakistani theatres.

Ere, it was the Mughal-E-Azam file that was with the Pak president followed by the Veer Zaara file. But an announcement came from Akbar Khan at the recently held FICCI Frames that his film was to be released in Pakistan first after Yash Chopra conveniently chose to ignore the same during his speech at FICCI as his film Veer Zaara could not make it to the other side of the border.

Mughal-E-Azam was actually the first film to secure permission to get released and to get a censor certification in Pakistan.

Using Akbar Asif's bridge to Pakistan, other makers moved in and it looked as if the man who paved their way for an Indo-Pak bridge would watch other films make the historical mark of securing the first release in Pakistan.

Says Akbar Asif, "The move to be the cultural bridge between India and Pakistan was to fulfil my father's dream of getting Mughal-E-Azam to be the first film to get permission to be screened in Pakistan."

The film was supposed to release in May with great pomp and splendor, but when Akbar Asif realized that his namesake Akbar Khan was moving in with his film on Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal, Asif quickly ensured that the biggie from the Moghul Empire Jalaluddin Akbar got prominence over his grandson Shah Jahan.

"We initially, wanted the film to get a grand premiere, but the thought struck me a few days ago that a film of the epic nature of Mughal-E-Azam needs no grandiose in terms of release. The film is itself the biggest and the grandest epic ever made in India."

So Akbar Asif silently got his papers approved all over again from the Pakistan government and the decision to have Mughal-E-Azam as the first film to be screened in Pakistan came through.

Asif, who had earlier gifted Rs 11,100,000 to the technicians who colored Mughal-e-Azam and promised the Akbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talash to be the talent hunt of the millennium, is elated at Mughal-E-Azam actually being the first Indian film to be released in Pakistan after over four decades.

Akbar Asif wants the proceeds from Mughal-E-Azam to go towards the earthquake-affected victims in Pakistan. But he adds that this is just the beginning of an Indo-Pak bridge. "There is a lot in the offing. Anarkali will bring together India and Pakistan. I want to create a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetime." (DesPardes News)

Related story:

Desi 'Gone With the Wind' Comes to Pakistan

Hunt begins for the new-age Anarkali

APRIL 23 - Forty-five years after K Asif's epic Mughal-e-Azam starring the beauteous Madhubala and dashing Dilip Kumar, the legendary filmmaker's son is launching a TV talent hunt for Anarkali, the leading lady.

Akbar Asif, a London-based millionaire, plans to find an Anarkali through his television extravaganza Akbar Asif Ko Anarkali Ki Talash.

Spread over six months, the TV show "aims to rock the South Asian television world", a release by the Akbar Asif Entertainment (UK) Ltd said.

Anarkali, the ladylove of rebellious Mughal prince Salim, was killed as per the legend. But in K. Asif's 1960 film, Mughal-e-Azam, Akbar lets Anarkali leave the country through a secret tunnel. Salim was told that Anarkali was dead.

"Through the Anarkali Ki Talash program I want to bring the people of Pakistan and India together by creating a sense of friendship that would last beyond our lifetime," said Asif.

The programme will involve well-known international and Bollywood celebrities as judges and will be aired globally.

The winner of the talent hunt will net a cool Rs.11.10 million (about $246,000) and a film contract. One winner from India and one from Pakistan will get Rs.2.5 million ($55,300) each for guessing the name of the celebrity who will crown the winner.

Asif has already managed to get permission for screening of Mughal-e-Azam in Pakistan. The film, due for release June 2, is one of the three Bollywood movies being specially allowed by the Pakistan Government.

Asif said he was still negotiating with a major Pakistani TV channel for telecasting the show. He is also negotiating with an Indian TV network for broadcast of the program in that country.

Asif believes his creation would be the "next big thing" to hit television in the subcontinent. "I hope it earns as much money as possible, as all the proceeds are promised to charity," he said.

More India Ent News:

"Rang De Basanti" in US varsities

Aishwarya falls from bicycle, gets bruises

Reema, Shilpa in the dock

Tattooed Mandira Bedi

Ajay Devgan launches website

Aamir Khan in the line of fire

Tabu, Kareena Unplugged

Sallu granted bail after 4 days in prison

Bad Boys of Bollywood

Rupees 100 Crore at Stake on Sallu

After Remixes it's �Remake� in Bollywood

John Abraham to be arrested for hit & run

Salman gets 5 yrs RI, sent to Jodhpur jail

Jennifer Lopez to perform in Mumbai

�Helen: The life and times of an H-Bomb�

Kareena's Rickshaw Ride

Priyanka replace Kareena - 'Love Story 2050'

Mona Chopra Nudes make rounds in MMS

Emraan Hashmi's under water smooching

�Strings� rocks gateway to South India

�Hum Log,��Buniyaad� storyteller is dead

Hrithik becomes father of baby boy

Salman, Amitabh do playback in �Babul�

Aishwarya to star in 'Rush Hour 3'

Mahima acts hottie in "Souten�

Jayaprada to sing with Adnan Sami

Big B Gets Back to Work

Aishwarya not Sushmita is 'Jhansi Ki Rani'

Income Tax Dept Silent on Big B's Visit

Taking Shabana Azmi for a ride

Jaya Bachchan moves Supreme Court

Dia Mirza's Land Cruiser seized

Asha Bhosle unveils new RD Burman album

'Tumhari Amrita� performed in Pakistan

Holi and Hindi cinema go hand in hand

Akshay and Preity to enthrall NY, NJ

Madhuri Dixit planning a comeback

Jaya Bachchan moves Supreme Court

Jessica Lall murder to be reinvestigated

Aish, Shahrukh, Rani in comic magazine

Priyanka on cover of men's magazine

Jaya Bachchan disqualified as MP

Watch out for Mona Chopra in 'Naughty Boy'

Sushmita's imported car seized

Sanjay in trouble after Salem confession

Aishwarya, Aamir invited to meet Bush

Manisha in "Dog House"

Awards for `Maine Gandhi Ko Nahi Maara'

Bipasha denies links with Amar Singh

`Black� is Beautiful

A R Rahman to tour US this summer

No respite for actor Salman Khan

'Maxim' says sorry to Khushboo

What Sanju did at Abhishek's party

Bollywood in Jitters over Salman sentence

Salman Khan gets a year in prison

Shilpa Shetty, Reema Sen in trouble

Manisha harboring political ambitions

I am waiting for my love - Sameera

Ash may say "I do" to Abhishek soon

When SRK lost his wedding ring

Kuljeet's last supper sans Paneer, Matar aur Roti

Turbans and Turmoil

Hottie Mallika being sought for thriller

Manisha woos Nepal voters

Kareena keeping a tab on Shahid

Sarkar prays at Akshardham

Rule in hell than serve in heaven: SRK

Gul Panag pens a story!

SRK, Preity in a music video!

Bollywood tackles Hollywood

The Desi Cowboy

�Iqbal� released in USA, UAE, So Africa

Bollywood's biggest tax payers

Big B says he's become religious

Big B eyed for film on Canada's dark history

Unauthorized horse holds up Basanti

Movie review: Zinda

Ireland seeking Bollywood

Big B to donate Rs.10cr jewelry to temple

Mithis Beautiful Mind - 15 Park Ave

'Rang De Basanti' release postponed

Bar dancers enter Bollywood

Hrithik as chief guest in college

Aish 7th sexiest body in the world

Italian belle in Bollywood

�We were propositioned in Bollywood�

`Apaharan�

TOP 5 INDIAN SONGS:

1 Meter Down - Taxi No. 9211
2 Roobaro - Rang De Basanti
3 Beautiful Day - Arayn
4 Boombai Nagariya - Taxi No. 9211
5 Fanah - Hum Ko Deewana Kar Gaye

Top 10 Desi Movies