While Pakistani actors are climbing up the Bollywood ladder fast with constant support from B-town filmmakers like Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt, our musicians seem to be having a tough time in India. After the last-minute cancellation of ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai, Mekaal Hasan Band also had to face unexpected protests by Shiv Sena while performing in Gujarat.
While Pakistani actors are climbing up the Bollywood ladder fast with constant support from B-town filmmakers like Karan Johar and Mahesh Bhatt, our musicians seem to be having a tough time in India. After the last-minute cancellation of ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai, Mekaal Hasan Band also had to face unexpected protests by Shiv Sena while performing in Gujarat.
According to Times of India, MHB, which also includes Indian band members along with vocalist Sharmistha Chatterjee, were due to perform at C N Vidyalay in Ahmedabad when 11 Shiv Sena activists, led by local party leader Ashok Sharma, assembled outside the venue and started shouting slogans against Pakistani artistes. Even though police arrived at the venue to arrest the protesters, the organizers decided to call off the event.
Shiv Sena, an extremist off shoot of the BJP-led ruling coalition in Maharashtra, has been constantly disrupting events showcasing Pakistani musicians on claims that Pakistan sponsors terrorism in India. Unlike our neighbours, Indian artistes are welcomed openly in Pakistan without any chaos whatsoever. Mahesh Bhatt, who is a regular visitor, recently attended the Jawani Phir Nahi Ani premiere in Lahore while MHB with their lead singer Sharmistha have performed on Coke Studio season 8 twice amidst much fanfare.
Alia Bhatt wants to essay singer Nazia Hassan in biopic
Pakistani pop queen of the ’80s, Nazia Hassan, was a celebrated artist across the globe whose soulful voice transcended borders, and it appears that Alia Bhatt, who was perhaps only a child when Nazia pa
ssed away, was also among those smitten.
While promoting her upcoming film Shandaar with Shahid Kapoor in Mumbai, the actress told reporters that a biopic would be a good opportunity to explore her skills further and that the first person that comes to her mind is Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan. “I would love to do a biopic on Pakistani pop sensation Nazia Hassan who died very early in her age. She was a singer and I am a singer too, so it will be interesting,” Bhatt said. “I did not think much about it but I think I should do it now.”
Biopics have become all the rage on both sides of the border – be it Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom or Sarmad Khoosat in Manto. While there are no reports as to whether a film on Nazia Hassan is under consideration, it sure is a good idea for filmmakers looking to make one in Pakistan as well as India.
