Pakistani actress Meera is set to act in two Bollywood films soon

Agence France Presse

Mumbai

Well-known Pakistani actress Meera has signed deals to act in two Bollywood films, marking the first move by a major Pakistani star to cross the border and feature in an Indian movie in more than a decade.

Meera, who bears the name of a Hindu saint, will star in ‘Allah Malik’ produced by Mumbai-based P D Mehra and ‘Lal Haveli’, to be produced by Bollywood’s famous Bhatt family.

The final deal will be concluded by Meera in March in Mumbai, Mehra said. “I had ‘Allah Malik’ in mind in 1999 and had even worked on a script. Unfortunately, the Kargil war broke out and the relations between the two countries got strained,” said Mehra of the 1999 fighting between India and Pakistan which claimed 1,000 lives. “So, I could not go ahead with my venture. Now, I am restarting that project with Meera.”

Meera will be the first headlining Pakistani actress to do a Bollywood film in more than a decade. Previously, Pakistani actresses like Salma Agha, Zeba Bakhtiyar and Somy Ali tried their luck in the industry but failed to make a successful career of it.

Mehra has roped in a Pakistani producer, Peer Wajed Ali Shah, to help produce his film. The duo has based their production house in Hollywood. “The production house is purposely based in Hollywood because our film should be available to both Indians and Pakistanis,” Mehra said.

Each country currently bans screening of movies made by the other in its territory. Mehra said he hoped more Indo-Pakistan joint collaborations would be formalised, taking advantage of the peace process between the two nations. He is also taking an Indian movie delegation to Pakistan in April to discuss a series of film issues.

‘Lal Haveli’, a Bhatt film, will be co-produced by Pakistan born Brit Sevy Ali. The movie is about a Muslim prostitute and a Hindu barrister set during the partition era, just after India and Pakistan gained independence from the colonial power Britain.

“We are film personalities and we have to see that the bridges between the two countries are built. As artistes we are supposed to spread peace and love everywhere,” said producer-director Mahesh Bhatt.