Take one for Pak’s Big B

Take one for Pak's Big B
AFSANA AHMED

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2004 06:13:32 AM ]

They've truly found their cinematic calling. India is the new entertainment hub for Pakistan . "And why not?" asks Javed Sheikh, Pakistani actor and filmmaker who gained tremendous popularity with his work in Dhoop Kinaare . The suave actor, popularly known as the Amitabh Bachchan of Pakistan , is confident that Pakistan can learn a lot from India in terms of cinema.




Sheikh is doing a Hindi film with Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty.



This "goodwill" film has Sheikh playing a friendly Pakistani. Sheikh in India to be part of the muhurat of this yet-to-be-named film.



Sheikh is also planning his next film Khuley Aasman Ke Neeche along the lines of a Yash Chopra production, to be shot entirely in India on a budget at Rs 5 crore. But he is ready to adjust his finance for the sake of Bollywood additions. The songs are being recorded with Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam. "I feel at home in India ," he smiles.



Khuley Aasman ... has two girls, a Pakistani and an Indian. "The story is such that I have to sign a Bollywood actress," he explains. He wants to approach Priyanka Chopra, Bipasha Basu and Lara Dutta for the role. "But the problem their dates. Even money can't change that."



Few know that he was married to actress Salma Aga and lived in Mumbai for three years. Sheikh chose to remain single after their divorce `till he finds his match again'. "Now I want to make a big-canvas film, with a budget of Rs 30 crore with a potential subject of Indo-Pak friendship, with actors and technicians from both countries."