Bollywood invades Pakistan
Bollywood’s official foray across the border happened recently but despite a 40 year ban the Hindi film industry its icons, song and dance remain a winner in Pakistan.
From the mainstay of weddings to everyday street lingo Bollywood’s impact goes from strength to strength.
“In the past 50 years or 60 years we have always been able to relate to the Amitabh Bachchans, the Shahrukh Khans and the Hritik Roshans far more as a cultural phenomena than our own actors. Also the new phenomenon Indian commercial cinema is being shown in Pakistani theatres so the impact is even larger. Earlier we were watching Indian cinema on video tapes of cd’s, now we are watching India on Star Plus on every cable and plus now you’ve even taken over our cinema technically. So that makes the impact of Bollywood huge much more bigger than we can even imagine,” said Deepak Perwani, Designer and actor.
For many years of strained Indo-Pakistan relations Bollywood remained Pakistan’s main connection with Indian life but with the official ban on Hindi films now lifted its presence in the country’s social and cultural life has intensified.
“You know there are so many Indian actors and actresses, they are just part of the landscape in Pakistan now and you know I think people have stopped looking at them and thinking oh Indian actor,” said Joshinder Chaggar, Choreographer.
The allure and glamour of the world’s largest film industry continues to attract aspirants including cricketing icons from Pakistan to try their luck in India’s tinsel town.
“They offered me a role, I was never going to try. There’s another script on my table right now I’m not going to mention his name but he has offered me another movie, which is named Akela. That’s about a guy who becomes a gangster from a good cricketer. So that’s the script we are looking into it. I’m not sure about whether I want to do this movie or not, but it’s still a good script,” said Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan cricketer.
Hindi film music has penetrated the barrier of political discord. From Mohammed Rafi songs to hits from Jab We Met Bollywood melodies feature on Pakistan’s news channels to parody the unraveling political scenario in Pakistan.
“The idea was obviously to use tunes that have now become part of our consciousness, become part of our psyche and Indian cinema, I mean in Pakistan is not looked upon as something foreign, it’s sort of penetrated into every home,” said Imran Aslam, President, Geo Network.
Indians may not know much about Pakistani actors but bollywood stars are household names as India’s best-known export across the border.
“Biggest icon I would say Amitabh Bachachan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Aishwarya, Sushmita, Katrina we all love them because they are great,” said Sunita Marshal, Model & Actress.
Visas for ordinary Pakistanis to travel to India may be hard to come by but a slice of the Mumbai magic ie ever present in many Pakistani homes.
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