Samina Peerzada, Mahesh Bhatt plan co-pro

LAHORE: Indian writer Mahesh Bhatt will write the script and Samina Peerzada will direct the first film co-produced by India and Pakistan. Many filmmakers from both sides of the border have been trying to start a series of co-productions, hoping it would boost Pakistan’s sagging film industry, and also increase cooperation between the two countries.

Talking to Daily Times from Karachi on the phone on Thursday, Ms Pirzada said Mr Bhatt would write her next film Kash and work on the new movie would start by the end of January. “I had a detailed meeting with Mr Bhatt at a film festival in England where my film Inteha was screened,” she said. “The music will be composed by Pakistani musicians and the songs will be choreographed by Indian choreographers. The cast of the film is yet to be decided. However, it will have both Indian and Pakistani stars.” Asked whether Puja Bhatt, Mr Bhatt’s daughter, would have a role in the film, Ms Peerzada said that would depend on the script. “I am fully concentrating on my new project and hopefully it will be out soon,” she said. —Shoaib Ahmed