"One of my Pakistani friends had tears in his eyes after watching the film and he was confident that it will bring the two countries closer together," said the director.
The film is based on a yesteryear's star athlete Milkha Singh, who was also known as the "Flying Sikh".
"I was fascinated by Milkha right from childhood. I came across his autobiography in Gurmukhi. His son Jeev was instrumental in getting us the film's rights," said the director.
Mehra said that Farhan Akhtar, who plays the character of Milkha will also be visiting Pakistan along with the rest of the crew.
The director asserted that making the film was a challenge and forced him to "sell my Gurgaon flat and my wife's shares,". However, it is an important story, he added.
The film plays upon the theme of Partition and will have Milkha participating in a sports event in Pakistan. After all, the sobriquet of the "Flying Sikh" was given to the athlete by General Ayub Khan.
"Farhan will always be remembered for immortalising Milkha Singh on the screen just like Amjad Khan was known as Gabbar Singh in Sholay and Amitabh as Vijay in Deewar," said the director.
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@ Lala Jee
I understand from your comments that you have no idea what Pakistan is and have never visited BUT acting like an expert who knows everything about Pakistan is even worse. . You are not writing a text message. Atleast don't disrespect a well respected English newspaper.
@Usman Khalid.....I am totally up for filtration of foreign cinema to help our own industry? You sound like a water filtration system that block dirty elements to purify the flow of water. Any kind of restriction deadens the society. Look at America it's the Petrie dish of immigrants from ALL over the world who enjoy a freedom their own country does not allow a country that through its 1st Amendment allows freedom of speech no matter how disgustingly vile, filthy, anti-religion or demeaning keeps a society free. A healthy society does not depend on anyones definition of what is deemed decent or indecent. It allows the individual to make that decision as censorship or banning restricts the flow of creative thought much of which has been lacking in Pakistan!
I think the movie's director has already stated that the movie is NOT banned in Pakistan in fact it hasn't been successful in finding confidence of a distributor due to low cinema turnout here in Ramazan. Pakistanis are now ardent cine goers and would openly welcome a good Bollywood movie like any other. In BMB's case, it sounds like a story worth seeing on the big screen, but of course in case any malicious content is present against Pakistan (which from what ive heard is not), it should not be screened here. That makes complete sense to me. But lets not stir up a storm when there is no reason "Lala Gee".. Indian movies carrying contoroversial political and sectarian material have been banned in their own different states time and again and censored under pressure of some political parties there too (like Chakrayuh). Propaganda against Pakistan sells at Indian box office often, but why I ask should Pakistan promote such a movie on its soil, let alone import it. How can it be justified and deemed fit to be screened for Pakistani audience and young generation just because its a blockbuster across the border. See movies like Ghaddar or the recent Agent Vinod and youll get my point. Lets keep our cinema clean of such controversies. Iam totally up for filtration of foreign cinema content and supporting our own industry to help it stand on its feet. That being said, healthy exchange of cinema,music and art between the two countries is more than welcome and a good step towards maturation of our societies.
Lala Gee, India should allow Sadda Haq first, then worry about other issues.
No u cant.........Sensor board in pakistan will not allow any kind of such good movies....They will allow Gujjar ,Gandasaas in which nachaniya will wear half baked dresses....they will want anything from semi nude to nude......but anything against......relegion or any comment that deviates two nation theory will not be shown in pakistan.......In your movie..u have shown the genocide of sikhs by some pakistani(MUSLIMS).........but Arab Pakistani muslims from pure and peaceland can never do such thing...........they dont even kill an ant........how can they kill people....they have built a sect free mosque u know......therefore best of luck to ur film as it has already crossed 100 crore paki currency..and still going strong in world over...
ET:Democratic comments should never be edited and sensored.........