Pakistani actress to star in Indian film as tensions ease

One of Pakistan’s most popular actresses is to star in an Indian film as the two nuclear-armed countries inch closer together after years of tension that led them to three wars.

The Bollywood movie follows a landmark meeting between Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf this month at which the south Asian neighbors agreed to hold talks, the first in nearly three years.

“There has been a lot of opposition in India and Pakistan, but no one can stop us because we are doing this for peace,” actress Meera said.

“This is my first step and I hope other actresses follow,” she said.

The star will play the central role in the still-to-be-named Hindi thriller about a blind woman who, after an eye transplant, acquires the bizarre ability to see murders in a red-light area before they are committed.

“Lollywood” -- “L” for its base in Lahore -- and Bombay’s “Bollywood” dish out similar fare with song-and-dance scenes and cliched plots, but Hindi films are hugely popular in Pakistan and are openly stocked in video shops despite a government ban for more than 50 years.

“The leaders of the two countries have set the tone and we must take it forward. I’m going to speed up interaction between our film industries and access more talent across the border,” said Bollywood filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, who will co-produce the movie with Pakistan-born British producer Sevy Ali.

“This movie will help to open up the film trade between India and Pakistan,” Bhatt said.

Meera said she was offered two roles by Bollywood directors last year but had to turn them down because of tension between the governments and fears she would not be welcome back home if she went to India.