Will Saba Qamar promote ‘Hindi Medium’ in India?
According to latest reports, the Pakistani actor might be crossing the border soon
PHOTO:FILE
Could our very own Saba Qamar be the one to break the unofficial embargo on Pakistani artists in Mumbai? Rumour has it that just might be the case.
The uber talented actor will soon be making her Bollywood debut in the upcoming Hindi Medium. The film – which is slated to hit the cinemas on May 12 and also stars iconic Bollywood big-wig Irfan Khan – is a light-hearted story of a young couple who aspire to move into the Westernised upper crust of Delhi society for the sake of their daughter’s future.
Here's how Saba Qamar bagged her first Bollywood film
According to the latest rumours, Saba is gearing up to promote Hindi Medium in India and is not nervous or anxious about how people will react there. It’s just a contingent upon her being given her visa.
A source from the Indian Government told Yahoo!, “There was never any official ban on the entry of Pakistani artistes in the country. Only niche, self-appointed vigilante groups were vocal about the so-called ban. There was never any official ban.”
If this is true, Saba would draw to a close the embargo that started back in October 2016, when Pakistani actor Fawad Khan was not allowed to cross the border to promote Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – a film he played a key role in.
Three months later, the situation had not improved much when Rahul Dholakia’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees released and its Pakistani leading lady Mahira Khan was not allowed into India.
Now, one cannot say that the troubled relationship between the two neighbouring countries has improved exactly but Saba sure seems set to renew their suspended cultural ties. Even Irrfan has come forth in support of inviting the Reader’s Digest star back to India. “When we started doing the film, there was no restriction on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood. It all began after we started,” he said recently. “Even now, I am not sure if the government has taken a stand on whether Pakistani artistes should be allowed to work in our industry or not. If something is legally permissible, should vigilante organisations stop them?”
Whether Saba gets to personally promote her film in India remains yet to be seen. In the meantime, another young Pakistani actor Sajal Ali is looking to make it big in the Indian film industry. Sajal will be playing a daughter to Bollywood veteran Sri Devi in her upcoming film Mom. If Saba’s plans to visit India go as smoothly as the Hindi Medium team hopes they will, then Mom producer Boney Kapoor will also try and get Sajal to cross the border.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
The uber talented actor will soon be making her Bollywood debut in the upcoming Hindi Medium. The film – which is slated to hit the cinemas on May 12 and also stars iconic Bollywood big-wig Irfan Khan – is a light-hearted story of a young couple who aspire to move into the Westernised upper crust of Delhi society for the sake of their daughter’s future.
Here's how Saba Qamar bagged her first Bollywood film
According to the latest rumours, Saba is gearing up to promote Hindi Medium in India and is not nervous or anxious about how people will react there. It’s just a contingent upon her being given her visa.
A source from the Indian Government told Yahoo!, “There was never any official ban on the entry of Pakistani artistes in the country. Only niche, self-appointed vigilante groups were vocal about the so-called ban. There was never any official ban.”
If this is true, Saba would draw to a close the embargo that started back in October 2016, when Pakistani actor Fawad Khan was not allowed to cross the border to promote Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil – a film he played a key role in.
Three months later, the situation had not improved much when Rahul Dholakia’s Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees released and its Pakistani leading lady Mahira Khan was not allowed into India.
Now, one cannot say that the troubled relationship between the two neighbouring countries has improved exactly but Saba sure seems set to renew their suspended cultural ties. Even Irrfan has come forth in support of inviting the Reader’s Digest star back to India. “When we started doing the film, there was no restriction on Pakistani artistes in Bollywood. It all began after we started,” he said recently. “Even now, I am not sure if the government has taken a stand on whether Pakistani artistes should be allowed to work in our industry or not. If something is legally permissible, should vigilante organisations stop them?”
Whether Saba gets to personally promote her film in India remains yet to be seen. In the meantime, another young Pakistani actor Sajal Ali is looking to make it big in the Indian film industry. Sajal will be playing a daughter to Bollywood veteran Sri Devi in her upcoming film Mom. If Saba’s plans to visit India go as smoothly as the Hindi Medium team hopes they will, then Mom producer Boney Kapoor will also try and get Sajal to cross the border.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.