 JUN 21 - Bollywood is ecstatic that Islamabad has taken off its books a
clause that barred Indian actors from featuring in Pakistani films.
"This for me is a moment of great happiness. I think it is a quantum
leap in Indo-Pak relations," said filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt. "Who says
that a handful of people can’t change the course of history?"
The decision to allow Indian actors and actresses to perform in
films made in Pakistan comes onlyf ive months after Islamabad gave
Bollywood the permission to screen its movies in Pakistan.
"The 'notorious' Paragraph 5, a major obstacle for Pakistani
filmmakers wanting to hire Indian actors, is no more," Saeed Rizvi,
chairman of the Pakistan Film Producers Association (PFPA), told a
newspaper. "This clause was a legislative order, which stopped
filmmakers from proceeding towards Indian frontiers."
Rizvi was referring to four amendments in the Censorship of Film
Rules, which removed the India-specific restriction of Paragraph 5.
Filmmaker is supposed to submit Form B to seek censorship clearance,
which includes Clause 5.
When enforced, the amended law would make the exchange reciprocal
among the film industries of the two countries. That means,
Pakistani actors can also cross the border for livelihood. |
