js and sana act in bollywood

Sana and Javed Sheikh face the Bollywood camera

LAHORE The first Pakistani film pair to take part in a Bollywood film, Sana and Javed Sheikh, have returned to Pakistan after the first shooting spell of Indian film Sitam.

Though most Lollywood big guns have talked about future co-productions with Indians, not many concrete plans have emerged since the peace talks began.

However, Ms Sana and Mr Sheikh have been on the film sets of Sitam for 12 days in Dubai. Both artists signed on for the film a few months ago but did not publicise the deal. The film is being produced by Muhammad Kamal and directed by Alok Naggar, who normally works as an assistant to famous Indian film director JP Datta.

The choreographer is Raju Khan, the son of Saroj Khan, and the script has been written by Javed Siddiqui. Nikil-Vinay is doing the music.

Talking to Daily Times on Monday, Ms Sana said she was disclosing to a newspaper for the first time that she had been to Dubai to act in an Indian film. “In Pakistan, every other person in the film industry has been claiming in the press that he or she has signed an Indian film. But I did not, because I did not want to make such tall claims until something materialised,” she said. “It is normal phenomena for an artist to work in foreign countries so I did not feel right to express extra jubilation over the project I had signed.”

She said artists should have no boundaries and they should perform everywhere in the world because it has become a global village. “I am one of the leading actresses in Pakistani and does not lack talent and skills. How can an actress be offered a film if she is not capable of it?” she said.

She said the Sitam producer, Mr Kamal, watched her film Ye Dil Aap Ka Huwa and liked her work. “So, he offered me to perform in his film, which I accepted after knowing about my role in the film. I am performing as a fashion model in the movie which is a love story,” said Ms Sana.

She said she was playing a lead role in the film with two Indian heroes, Kapil and Iqbal. Kapil has performed in Dil to Perdesi Ho Gaya and Iqbal has performed in Fantoos.

Ms Sana said Indian film industry people were more professional than Pakistanis. “They are friendly and cooperative.”

She said she would leave for Mumbai in the first week of May for the second spell of the Sitam’s shooting. The third and the final spell would tentatively take place in Mauritius, she added.

Describing his role in the film, Mr Sheikh said he was playing a young-to-old role in the film “I am play the role of a father of two guys,” he said.

He said he felt it very nice to perform with Indian colleagues. He also praised Indian showbiz people for their professionalism. “Good thing about the Indian film industry is that that they give chance to new directors to flourish in the industry,” he said.

Mr Sheikh said the film would be completed by September or October this year. Asked why he did not go for a big banner film, the actor said India produced average 250 films every year, out of which only 10 to 12 films are hits at the box office.

“Facts show that only big banner films have not been the key to success. Films like Muna Bhai MBBS, Murder, Raaz, Jism, Ishq Wishq by a new director have done tremendous business,” he said.