Fawad Khan keen to sign this Indo-Pak film to promote peace

Mahesh Bhatt and Salima Hashmi will serve as creative advisors in the cross-border story of two musicians

Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and the proposed ban on Pakistani artists, veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal wants to cast Fawad Khan in his upcoming film.

Produced by the award-winning filmmaker, Ye Raste Hain Pyar Ke will be a story of two musicians from across the border and their journey of self discovery.

The upcoming film is said to be directed by Harsh Narayan, who has played a pivotal role in strengthening Pakistan-India ties over the last 15 years.

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But above all, the Khoobsurat actor is in talks to play a lead role for the past three months. “At the moment, he is skeptical about reactions to him working in an Indo-Pak co-production. He has shown a keen interest and will respond as soon as the present situation cools down. We are hoping he agrees to play the lead musician in the film,” Harsh told Mumbai Mirror.

Both the director and the producer remain unperturbed by the Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association's (IMPPA) call for ban on Pakistani artists. “I believe there couldn’t be a better time to put out a film that explores love and peace and promotes humanity,” said Harsh.

"Faiz Ahmed Faiz wrote the famous poem, Black-Out, while the 1965 Indo-Pak war was underway. His Subh-e-Azadi: Dawn of Independence faced protests. From 1947 till his death in 1984, Faiz composed poems in which he spoke lovingly about his land and its long-suffering people, their hopes and fears, joys and sorrows. I'm trying to capture that feeling through my film,” he asserted.



Mahesh Bhatt will serve as the creative advisor of the film as he believes this idea “has immense possibilities and it affirms life in a very elementary way”.

He will be joined by the Pakistani writer-artist Salima Hashmi, daughter of Faiz Ahmed Faiz. “Harsh has played a pivotal role in forging friendships between the Indian and Pakistani youth. For the last decade, students have worked with him and travelled to India in groups to meet young people at different venues, participating in cultural activities including music and theatre to learn from each other and to promote peace. He is continuing his work in the same direction through films,” said Salima.

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The project has also received the support of Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan. “Respected Pakistanis and Indians who have known Harsh over the years and have seen him work relentlessly speak highly of his endeavours. I feel this film will help reduce friction between the two nations,” he said.

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