MUMBAI:
Bollywood's influence on Pakistani lives and on its film industry is undeniable, says model-actor Aamina Sheikh, a well-known face in Pakistan’s fashion and entertainment sector.
"One can't deny the Bollywood influence in Pakistan," Aamina told IANS, adding that people in Pakistan are as passionate about Bollywood as Indians.
"So much so, that they want to compete with Bollywood films. We, as actors, always say that we can't compare the two industries at infrastructural and other levels. But people can't help but compare."
"Bollywood has an immense impact on our lives. Who doesn't want to take a deep dive into it," added the 29-year-old.
When asked about her favourite actor and who she would want to work with, Aamina answered promptly: "Working with Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor would be nice."
Aamina, who is the face of L'Oreal Paris, Emirates Airlines, Pantene Shampoo and Clear Shampoo in Pakistan, was in India for the first time for her forthcoming film Josh, which was screened at the 14th Mumbai Film Festival (MFF).
"I am here for the first time and what better way to come for work through work. Josh is a film that has been made with a lot of passion and heart. I am hoping it does well," Aamina said.
Directed by Iram Parveen Bilal, Josh is the only fiction film from Pakistan screened at MFF in the last five years. It is also the only film from the country to be showcased at the festival this year.
She feels her biggest challenge was to raise funds as the country's industry is not that developed and lacks "streamlined infrastructure".
"Fund-raising for the film was hard since I had to do it independently and it took me one and a half year, since it was my first feature and I didn’t have a track record for people to judge me by. Since the indie industry in Pakistan is fairly young, I literally went knocking on every door possible to raise funds," she told IANS.
Talking about her character in the film, Aamina said: "I play Fatima, who has a group of friends who are very progressive and represent the urban youth from cities like Karachi and Mumbai. It is through her friends that she explores her nanny's village. The nanny runs a 'khaana ghar' that Fatima attempts to run after her nanny dies.”
"As she starts the journey, she comes across a lot of complexities and tries to address them head on. So the film is about her journey of exploration of the village, which has mystery and lies."
An environmental engineer-turned-film-maker, Aamina said that her film is inspired by Parveen Saeed's concept of "erase hunger to erase crime" by setting up affordable meals in and around Karachi's slums.
"The script and story are completely original. I started with a general idea and brainstormed on different characters that would suit a scenario or theme. I also wanted it to be a film that showcased sides of Pakistan the international community would not know or expect," she added.
Josh will break the stereotype of the country, hopes Aamina.
"The plot of the film is like an allegory of what Pakistan is right now. It is a bird's eye view of what the country is. The story makes you touch the heart of Pakistan and breaks the stereotyped image of the country," she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2012.
Like Life & Style on Facebook and follow at @ETLifeandStyle for the latest in fashion, gossip, entertainment
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ