New Delhi : She grew up watching the films of Bollywood’s late ethereal beauty Madhubala, has enjoyed new wave Indian gems like “Parineeta” and “Barfi!”, and loves to catch up on “Comedy Nights With Kapil”. But Samina Peerzada, a veteran actor-filmmaker from Pakistan, says exchange of content from Pakistan to India has been “long-awaited” and will help find a connect.
“I think it has been long-awaited – this exchange of content from Pakistan to India. We’re glad that viewers in India will now hear the voice of Pakistan; will have a face to our country; see our lives; feel our emotions; issues; and see our commonalities through our shows,” the 59-year-old told IANS over phone from Lahore.
Indian shows have for long been lapped up in Pakistan – but viewers had to rely on pirated recordings. The internet opened the gates and allowed people to access Pakistani shows via online video-sharing platform YouTube.
But Zindagi TV-Jodey Dilon Ke, a new offering from Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), is now taking stories from across the border to Indian viewers’ bedrooms by officially treating them with some of Pakistan’s best shows.
She started her career in 1976 with “Nazdikiyan”, following which she featured in “Bazaare Husn” and “Khawahish”. She says she’s hoping to plan a co-production with an Indian producer for some “great storytelling”.
“I hope India gets to sample the new wave of cinema in Pakistan. Our hope is that when you release your films in India, a Pakistani film gets a simultaneous release,” she said, pointing out the positive response that films like “Khuda Kay Liye” and “Bol” from her nation received in India.
Samina says she’s been visiting India off and on since 1979 and has been witness
to its economic, political
and cultural development. “There are some wonderful people, and I have some great friends in Mumbai, from Bollywood, and then I have some friends in Delhi and Kolkata. I love visiting them,” she said while also sharing that she’s looking forward to coming back to India in August for a brief visit.
