Shimla, Sept 03: Bollywood actors should be given
an opportunity to act in Pakistani films to promote friendly
relations between the two countries, actor Shatrughan Sinha
has said.
"This will promote bonhomie between the countries and
give credence to efforts to shed hostilities of the past and
forge friendly ties," he said adding many Pakistani actors
privately support this "two way traffic".
Sinha, who has been a frequent visitor to Pakistan and
enjoys a close relationship with the late military dictator
Zia-ul-Haq's family, lamented Pakistan restricting Indian
actors and singers from performing in that country.
"Zia-ul-Haq's youngest daughter Zen Zia is a great fan
of me and I make it a point to attend her birthday in July
every year," he told a reporter at the Simla Press Club
yesterday.
The songs of Lata Mangeskar are very popular in Pakistan
but her hits are dubbed by some other singers of that country.
Actors Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt,
Salman Khan are very popular in that country and people see
their movies secretly on CDs, he added.
Talking about his own film career, Sinha said he had
not said goodbye to Bollywood. "A few good films are lying
with me for which I have consented. The shooting of one of the
films is going to start soon".
"I have decided to do one film at a time because I
cannot be totally off from political activities... I have to
divide time judiciously between the two," the BJP MP said.
"I got name and fame from Bollywood...How can I be
away from the world of cinema...There is no question of
saying goodbye to films," he added.
"Even as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee
government, I had taken permission from the Prime Minister to
do a movie "Aan," the actor said.
Sinha, who is popularly known as shotgun said,
"Apprehension of a mid-term parliamentary poll is deterring me
from giving time for shooting movies".
Asked if his two sons Luv and Kush are interested in a
Bollywood career, Sinha said a film featuring Luv is expected
to hit the silver screen soon.
Kush is interested in direction and has also done
a course in that, he said adding, "It might be that Kush will
direct a film in which Luv will be in the leading role."
Sinha favoured financing of films by banks and other
financial institutions on easy conditions to end the role of
the underworld in funding movies.
Bureau Report
