 MAR 9 - Actor-turned-director Omar Sharif will become the first
Pakistani to direct an Indian film that goes into production
this month.
In a sign of the growing thaw between the two neighbors, Omar
will shoot a comedy “Tum Mere Ho” (You Are Mine) to make history
-- but the film has nothing to do with the near 60-year rivalry
between the two nations, according to US-based producer Masood
Ali.
"It's a romantic comedy and I chose Omar to direct it because I
have watched his films and they are great," producer Masood Ali,
also making his debut, told Reuters.
Pakistani actors and musicians have made a mark on Bollywood,
but Omar Sharif will be the first to debut as a director of a
Bollywood film with an all-Indian cast in India's booming
Hindi-language movie industry.
The film, featuring Bollywood great Rajesh Khanna and upcoming
stars Ashmit Patel and Aarti Chhabria - will begin shooting from
March 26 in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad and Chicago
but producer Ali said there was little chance of the film being
released in Pakistan.
 “As far as I know, Bollywood films are barred from releasing in
Pakistan so I don’t know whether this film would have a chance
to get released in Pakistan,” he said.
Sharif, a dramatist, also has a loyal following among the Indian
middle-classes for his plays.
Sharif started as a stand-up comedian before moving into cinema.
"We are looking to release the 120 million rupee ($2.7 million)
film around October or November before the (Hindu festival)
Diwali," Ali said. Indian film industry officials welcomed the
arrival of a Pakistani filmmaker, saying their neighbor had
several promising directors who could better showcase their
talents in India, whose films are increasingly gaining an
international audience.
Last month, the government allowed a special screening of
"Mughal-e-Azam," an Indian period drama classic of Mughal
emperors. |
