Daily Times

Sir: It was a pleasant experience to hear and see veteran filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and his doting daughter Pooja Bhatt, who herself is an actor and producer. Both dignitaries were given a warm welcome at National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi. Mr Bhatt was of the opinion that both countries need to come forward to eliminate distances. He said that he would advocate and support any cultural activities between Pakistan and India. He also opined that Pakistani people love to see Indian actors in Pakistan. Indian channels also show Pakistani dramas thus we meet and share a cultural confluence. A month ago, the award-winning Indian film and stage actor Naseeruddin Shah was also invited by Oxford University Press in Lahore for launching his autobiography. The most commonly held view of these artistes is that we have so many things in common and we must relish and enjoy sameness, and relinquish dissimilarities. Indeed, it is a fact that we are the victim of political gimmicks. The wall of hatred between the two countries, which was long erected, must be demolished now. The visits by artistes across borders are a healthy sign for both countries. It is hoped that a day would dawn when we would bury all our disparities and discrepancies like France and Germany did in Europe.

NASIR-UD-DIN SOOMRO
Hyderabad