Latest news with #IndianMotionPictureProducersAssociation
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Diljit Dosanjh Trolled For Casting Pakistani Actor Hania Aamir in Sardaar Ji 3
Punjabi singer-star Diljit Dosanjh is facing criticism for casting Pakistani star Hania Aamir in his upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3. In an apparent move to steer clear of controversy on ground in India, the horror comedy movie is also skipping a theatrical release in the country and going for an overseas screening on Friday (June 27). The announcement comes two months after the deadly terror attack in Jammu Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, 2025 and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, the air missile strikes carried out by the Indian armed forces on May 7, 2025 targeted on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack. What's Happening View this post on Instagram A post shared by DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) Diljit Dosanjh is being trolled on social media over casting Pakistani actor Hania Aamir in his latest Punjabi movie Sardaar Ji 3. On Sunday night, Diljit Dosanjh shared the trailer on his Instagram page. "Sardaar Ji 3 Releasing 27th June OVERSEAS Only FADH LAO BHOOND DIAN LATTAN," he captioned his post. The Amar Singh Chamkila star's team also posted the link of Sohni Lagdi, a song from Sardaar Ji 3 featuring Diljit Dosanjh and Hania Aamir. The track will be out today. "Sohni lagdi - Song Out Tomorrow Diljit x @haniaheheofficial," read the caption. The trailer of Sardaar Ji 3 is unavailable on YouTube India. "The uploader has not made this video available in your country," reads the message. The teaser and songs of the film are still available. Aamir didn't feature in the teaser, which was released earlier. Popular Punjabi actor Neeru Bajwa is also part of the film. Why Is Diljit Dosanjh Getting Brickbats For Co-Starring With Hania Aamir In Sardaar Ji 3 Instagram accounts of Hania Aamir and several other Pakistani stars, including Mahira Khan, Sanam Saeed, and Ali Zafar were blocked in India following a "legal request" in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. Following the 2016 Uri attack, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) banned Pakistani actors from working in Indian films. Several film bodies in India, including the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), reiterated its stand against Pakistani artistes in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. Hania Aamir was also criticised for anti-India remarks following Operation Sindoor. What The Internet Is Saying Many Diljit Dosanjh fans on social media were disappointed. This was Hania Aamir degrading our India during Op. Sindoor. He and some of our celebrities seriously deserve ban from our industry . Remember this before giving reach, views to this. — Chikorita☘️ (@Sam_Writes1) June 23, 2025 "This was Hania Aamir degrading our India during Op. Sindoor. He and some of our celebrities seriously deserve a ban from our industry . Remember this before giving reach, views to this," said an X user. Another called for a boycott of the film. So now Diljit drops a trailer with Hania Aamir the same actress who called Operation Sindoor "sinister"? No outrage. No boycott. Just vibes? Imagine the reaction if the roles were reversed. Selective outrage is the real plague. Shameful. #DiljitDosanjh #HaniaAamir #sardarji3 — BHARTIYA 🇮🇳🇮🇳 (@Bhartiya1947_) June 23, 2025 "So now Diljit drops a trailer with Hania Aamir, the same actress who called Operation Sindoor 'sinister'? No outrage. No boycott. Just vibes? Imagine the reaction if the roles were reversed. Selective outrage is the real plague. Shameful. #DiljitDosanjh #HaniaAamir #sardarji3." One of the users on X called Hania Aamir's casting in Sardaar Ji 3 "absolutely disgraceful". Absolutely disgraceful! 🚨 Hania Aamir's hypocrisy and Diljit Dosanjh's betrayal of Bharat Mata by cozying up to a Pakistani actress after Operation Sindoor's bold strike against terror are a slap in the face to every proud Indian! #BoycottDiljit #BanPakArtists #IndiaFirst Our… — Mind Mingle (@MarsLyricist6) June 23, 2025 "Hania Aamir's hypocrisy and Diljit Dosanjh's betrayal of Bharat Mata by cozying up to a Pakistani actress after Operation Sindoor's bold strike against terror are a slap in the face to every proud Indian! #BoycottDiljit #BanPakArtists #IndiaFirst Our jawans sacrificed their lives to protect us, and these so-called "stars" spit on that valor for cheap fame. Time to stand united NO TOLERANCE for anti-national agendas! Jai Hind!" she wrote. Fans also spoke their mind in Diljit Dosanjh's comments box on Instagram. There were also a handful who praised Diljit Dosanjh for his courage. Want to say - Hania Aamir & Diljit Dosanjh faced a lot of heat due to the recent Indian aggression. Diljit was under heavy pressure for starring a Pakistani, yet launched the movie despite not being permitted in India. What an absolute legend! — H'ur (@Hur1) June 22, 2025 Diljit Dosanjh And Hania Aamir's Association Last October, Hania Aamir, along with her friends, attended Diljit Dosanjh's London concert as part of his Dil-Luminati Tour. At the time, videos of Diljit Dosanjh inviting Hania Aamir to the stage of the O2 Arena and singing his popular song Lover for the star of Pakistani serials such as Kabhi Main Kabhi Tum and Mere Humsafar went viral on social media. Days after the show, Hania Aamir shared a series of pictures from the show and penned a heartfelt note for Diljit Dosanjh on Instagram. "Hona ni mai recover what a night," she began her post, referring to Lover. "It was magic. The love, the respect, the soul. Impeccable. It was all heart. @diljitdosanjh sir ek he dil hai kitni dafa jeeto ge. Pyar aur sirt pyar. The entire team is just. An honour to have come across so many beautiful souls. Truly memorable. Thank you for all your love and warmth @sonalisingh love and duas @kreposit thanks for capturing the moments (sic)" she had written on Instagram. In A Nutshell Diljit Dosanjh is in the middle of a controversy over co-starring with Pakistani star Hania Aamir in his new movie Sardaar Ji 3. There's a ban on Pakistani artistes against featuring in Indian films; the calls against actors from across the border got louder after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. Diljit Dosanjh is no stranger to controversies. His film Punjab 95, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, is yet to see the light of the day.
Express Tribune
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Farhan, Armeena react to India's Instagram ban
In the latest fallout of the ongoing cultural freeze between India and Pakistan, several Pakistani celebrities have reacted sharply to Indian authorities banning their Instagram accounts. The ban, imposed after the Pahalgam attack, has drawn sharp responses from the entertainment industry in Pakistan, including singer-actor Farhan Saeed and film star Armeena Khan. Farhan, who rose to fame with the band Jal and has since acted in several acclaimed television serials, posted a pointed message on social media on Friday. "What started as a war has turned into a high school blocking game. Your loss," he wrote. "All the love to Indian fans who are victims of this. I pray that sense prevails and you can see your favourite stars again." Armeena, known for her performances in Bin Roye and Janaan, also shared her thoughts. "I'm not too bothered [by the ban]," she said. "I just feel for the fans who were always supportive of me and believed in peace." Several other celebrities on this side of the border have voiced their reactions to India's continued ban on Pakistani artists. Actor Yasir Hussain responded sarcastically, urging followers to not take the ban too seriously, while actor-comedian Arsalan Naseer joked about blaming Fawad Khan for the situation, adding a comic twist. Meanwhile, actor Zhalay Sarhadi took a firmer stance, questioning the motives behind the ban and reminding everyone that VPNs exist. Comedian Ali Gul Pir responded with a playful apology to his Indian followers, reaffirming his goodwill. The unofficial ban on Pakistani actors in India, in place since 2016, resurfaced in public discourse following renewed political tensions in early 2025. The original catalyst was the 2016 Uri attack, after which the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) announced a bar on Pakistani artists working in Bollywood, citing national security concerns. This industry-level decision was later upheld by the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA), framing the issue as one of patriotism over cultural exchange. In 2018, a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the constitutionality of the ban, arguing it violated the freedom of artistic expression and cultural rights, but the appeal was dismissed, with the court observing that such decisions were within the government's diplomatic purview. Despite no official state order, the ban has been enforced across casting decisions, promotions, and now, digital platforms, evidenced by the 2025 blocking of several Pakistani celebrity Instagram accounts. While institutional barriers remain, Pakistani actors and musicians who once found massive popularity in India, from Mahira Khan to Atif Aslam, continue to advocate for cultural dialogue and mutual respect. As Farhan poignantly stated, "I pray that sense prevails."
Saudi Gazette
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right
MUMBAI — Excitement is growing in cinema-mad India for the return of a movie star from Pakistan to its big screens after his long absence due to an industry ban on artists from the neighboring country. Fawad Khan, an actor, singer and producer with a huge following in India, announced his Bollywood comeback last week, sending fans into a frenzy, 18 months after an Indian court effectively ruled that a de facto industry ban on Pakistani talent imposed in 2016 was illegal. 'The wait is over! Bringing love back to the big screen,' Khan posted to Instagram last week, alongside a short teaser for the May 9 release of rom-com 'Abir Gulaal.' The post set off a wave of excitement among fans on social media and on the streets of Mumbai, the home of Bollywood. 'Super stoked to have an artist as talented as Fawad Khan back in Indian cinema,' said marketing professional Phhagun Dev. 'You have been missed.' Manya Shiksharthi agreed. 'Art has the power to cross borders and connect people in ways nothing else can so hoping for the absolute best,' she said. India's multibillion-dollar movie industry produces around 1,500 to 2,000 films per year in more than 20 languages – more than any other country – and holds an outsized influence on the country's culture, identity and economy. While Pakistani and Indian performers have a long and storied history of collaboration, that came to an abrupt halt nine years ago after dozens of Indian soldiers were killed in a militant attack in the disputed Kashmir region that was followed by deadly clashes along the contested border. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denied, and as tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association imposed a de-facto ban on Pakistani talent. Khan, the star of multiple hit Bollywood films, simply disappeared from Indian screens. Meanwhile, Pakistan has largely restricted Indian films from release in the country since 2016. Where Hindi cinema once reflected certain secular, democratic values championed by India's founding fathers, many critics say the industry has veered toward the right over the past decade – coinciding with the populist rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Alarmed liberals and some industry insiders point to a string of recent blockbusters that they say perpetuate anti-Muslim stereotypes and sideline opposition views. A BJP national spokesperson previously told CNN the party is not prejudiced against Muslims, and the community has benefited from Modi's leadership. Regardless of the political climate, a pathway for stars from Muslim-majority Pakistan to return to Bollywood was opened in 2023, when the Bombay High Court rejected a petition seeking a total ban on Pakistani actors from working in India. Such a move would be 'a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace,' the court ruled. Yet in Khan's home country, the film is not expected to release, upsetting fans and cinema lovers alike. 'As a fan of Pakistani dramas and Hindi cinema, I for one will be disappointed to miss out on the experience of watching this creative collaboration, starring one of our most celebrated superstars,' said Lahore-based freelance journalist and communications expert Abbas Hussain. Once a single nation, India and Pakistan were hastily divided by their departing British colonial ruler along religious lines with devastating results, giving rise to one of the world's fiercest geopolitical rivalries. In the nearly eight decades since, the two countries have fought three wars and introduced heavy restrictions on travel and exchange of goods, despite sharing a border, a culture and a deeply intertwined history. Among that shared culture is a nearly universal love for cinema. Khan's new movie 'Abir Gulaal' references the Hindu festival of colors Holi in its title. Set in London, it tells 'a love story filled with unexpected turns,' according to its synopsis. In the teaser, Khan serenades Indian actor Vaani Kapoor to the tune of a popular Hindi love song. 'Abir Singh, are you flirting?' she asks Khan. 'Do you want me to?' he replies. Khan's impending return to Bollywood is 'heartening news,' Indian film critic and analyst Tanul Thakur said. 'It also reminds us what art can truly achieve: collapsing national boundaries, bringing people closer, and giving the fans a reason to smile,' he said. Anisha Pal, 26, a movie fan and marketing professional from Kolkata, echoed that sentiment. 'I am extremely happy to see him back in Bollywood,' she said. 'Art and artists shouldn't get affected by politics. I think his return sends out a message of hope.' But not everyone is happy. Politicians from India's Hindu-nationalist far right blasted the news of Khan's return and have vowed to derail his film's release. 'Despite saying so many times that films by Pakistani artists will not be released in India, some nasty people still try to push their agenda,' the president of the cinema wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional party in Bollywood's home state, wrote on X last week. 'We will not let the film release in India and that's final. Those who want to support Pakistani artists are free to do so, but just remember that you will have to face us.' Neither Khan, nor the movie's producers, have publicly commented on the perceived threats. CNN is attempting to reach them for comment. This isn't the first time Khan has faced the wrath of India's Hindu right. In 2022, his movie 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' – Pakistan's highest grossing film of all time – was banned from release in India following threats from the far-right. 'The amount of business this film has done and the kind of boundaries it's pushed... is going to have a profound effect in the years to come and I hope it continues like that,' Khan told CNN at the time. Despite the hostility of right-wing politicians, many Indian fans say they are open to seeing more Pakistani stars on their screens. 'They have been loved by the Indian audience too,' said Tania Rao, a teacher from Delhi. 'Talent should be appreciated and seen beyond boundaries... I'm excited to see a good actor given a good film, and more hopeful if it aids to soothe the tension that always seems to exist between India and Pakistan.' — CNN
CNN
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right
Excitement is growing in cinema-mad India for the return of a movie star from Pakistan to its big screens after his long absence due to an industry ban on artists from the neighboring country. Fawad Khan, an actor, singer and producer with a huge following in India, announced his Bollywood comeback last week, sending fans into a frenzy, 18 months after an Indian court effectively ruled that a de facto industry ban on Pakistani talent imposed in 2016 was illegal. 'The wait is over! Bringing love back to the big screen,' Khan posted to Instagram last week, alongside a short teaser for the May 9 release of rom-com 'Abir Gulaal.' The post set off a wave of excitement among fans on social media and on the streets of Mumbai, the home of Bollywood. 'Super stoked to have an artist as talented as Fawad Khan back in Indian cinema,' said marketing professional Phhagun Dev. 'You have been missed.' Manya Shiksharthi agreed. 'Art has the power to cross borders and connect people in ways nothing else can so hoping for the absolute best,' she said. India's multibillion-dollar movie industry produces around 1,500 to 2,000 films per year in more than 20 languages – more than any other country – and holds an outsized influence on the country's culture, identity and economy. While Pakistani and Indian performers have a long and storied history of collaboration, that came to an abrupt halt nine years ago after dozens of Indian soldiers were killed in a militant attack in the disputed Kashmir region that was followed by deadly clashes along the contested border. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denied, and as tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association imposed a de-facto ban on Pakistani talent. Khan, the star of multiple hit Bollywood films, simply disappeared from Indian screens. Meanwhile, Pakistan has largely restricted Indian films from release in the country since 2016. Where Hindi cinema once reflected certain secular, democratic values championed by India's founding fathers, many critics say the industry has veered toward the right over the past decade – coinciding with the populist rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Alarmed liberals and some industry insiders point to a string of recent blockbusters that they say perpetuate anti-Muslim stereotypes and sideline opposition views. A BJP national spokesperson previously told CNN the party is not prejudiced against Muslims, and the community has benefited from Modi's leadership. Regardless of the political climate, a pathway for stars from Muslim-majority Pakistan to return to Bollywood was opened in 2023, when the Bombay High Court rejected a petition seeking a total ban on Pakistani actors from working in India. Such a move would be 'a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace,' the court ruled. Yet in Khan's home country, the film is not expected to release, upsetting fans and cinema lovers alike. 'As a fan of Pakistani dramas and Hindi cinema, I for one will be disappointed to miss out on the experience of watching this creative collaboration, starring one of our most celebrated superstars,' said Lahore-based freelance journalist and communications expert Abbas Hussain. Once a single nation, India and Pakistan were hastily divided by their departing British colonial ruler along religious lines with devastating results, giving rise to one of the world's fiercest geopolitical rivalries. In the nearly eight decades since, the two countries have fought three wars and introduced heavy restrictions on travel and exchanges of goods, despite sharing a border, a culture and a deeply intertwined history. Among that shared culture is a nearly universal love for cinema. Khan's new movie 'Abir Gulaal' references the Hindu festival of colors Holi in its title. Set in London, it tells 'a love story filled with unexpected turns,' according to its synopsis. In the teaser, Khan serenades Indian actor Vaani Kapoor to the tune of a popular Hindi love song. 'Abir Singh, are you flirting?' she asks Khan. 'Do you want me to?' he replies. Khan's impending return to Bollywood is 'heartening news,' Indian film critic and analyst Tanul Thakur said. 'It also reminds us what art can truly achieve: collapsing national boundaries, bringing people closer, and giving the fans a reason to smile,' he said. Anisha Pal, 26, a movie fan and marketing professional from Kolkata, echoed that sentiment. 'I am extremely happy to see him back in Bollywood,' she said. 'Art and artists shouldn't get affected by politics. I think his return sends out a message of hope.' But not everyone is happy. Politicians from India's Hindu-nationalist far right blasted the news of Khan's return and have vowed to derail his film's release. 'Despite saying so many times that films by Pakistani artists will not be released in India, some nasty people still try to push their agenda,' the president of the cinema wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional party in Bollywood's home state, wrote on X last week. 'We will not let the film release in India and that's final. Those who want to support Pakistani artists are free to do so, but just remember that you will have to face us.' Neither Khan, nor the movie's producers, have publicly commented on the perceived threats. CNN is attempting to reach them for comment. This isn't the first time Khan has faced the wrath of India's Hindu right. In 2022, his movie 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' – Pakistan's highest grossing film of all time – was banned from release in India following threats from the far-right. 'The amount of business this film has done and the kind of boundaries it's pushed… is going to have a profound effect in the years to come and I hope it continues like that,' Khan told CNN at the time. Despite the hostility of right-wing politicians, many Indian fans say they are open to seeing more Pakistani stars on their screens. 'They have been loved by the Indian audience too,' said Tania Rao, a teacher from Delhi. 'Talent should be appreciated and seen beyond boundaries… I'm excited to see a good actor given a good film, and more hopeful if it aids to sooth the tension that always seems to exist between India and Pakistan.' CNN's Esha Mitra and Deepak Rao in New Delhi and Sophia Saifi in Islamabad contributed reporting.
CNN
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right
Excitement is growing in cinema-mad India for the return of a movie star from Pakistan to its big screens after his long absence due to an industry ban on artists from the neighboring country. Fawad Khan, an actor, singer and producer with a huge following in India, announced his Bollywood comeback last week, sending fans into a frenzy, 18 months after an Indian court effectively ruled that a de facto industry ban on Pakistani talent imposed in 2016 was illegal. 'The wait is over! Bringing love back to the big screen,' Khan posted to Instagram last week, alongside a short teaser for the May 9 release of rom-com 'Abir Gulaal.' The post set off a wave of excitement among fans on social media and on the streets of Mumbai, the home of Bollywood. 'Super stoked to have an artist as talented as Fawad Khan back in Indian cinema,' said marketing professional Phhagun Dev. 'You have been missed.' Manya Shiksharthi agreed. 'Art has the power to cross borders and connect people in ways nothing else can so hoping for the absolute best,' she said. India's multibillion-dollar movie industry produces around 1,500 to 2,000 films per year in more than 20 languages – more than any other country – and holds an outsized influence on the country's culture, identity and economy. While Pakistani and Indian performers have a long and storied history of collaboration, that came to an abrupt halt nine years ago after dozens of Indian soldiers were killed in a militant attack in the disputed Kashmir region that was followed by deadly clashes along the contested border. India blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denied, and as tensions escalated between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association imposed a de-facto ban on Pakistani talent. Khan, the star of multiple hit Bollywood films, simply disappeared from Indian screens. Meanwhile, Pakistan has largely restricted Indian films from release in the country since 2016. Where Hindi cinema once reflected certain secular, democratic values championed by India's founding fathers, many critics say the industry has veered toward the right over the past decade – coinciding with the populist rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Alarmed liberals and some industry insiders point to a string of recent blockbusters that they say perpetuate anti-Muslim stereotypes and sideline opposition views. A BJP national spokesperson previously told CNN the party is not prejudiced against Muslims, and the community has benefited from Modi's leadership. Regardless of the political climate, a pathway for stars from Muslim-majority Pakistan to return to Bollywood was opened in 2023, when the Bombay High Court rejected a petition seeking a total ban on Pakistani actors from working in India. Such a move would be 'a retrograde step in promoting cultural harmony, unity and peace,' the court ruled. Yet in Khan's home country, the film is not expected to release, upsetting fans and cinema lovers alike. 'As a fan of Pakistani dramas and Hindi cinema, I for one will be disappointed to miss out on the experience of watching this creative collaboration, starring one of our most celebrated superstars,' said Lahore-based freelance journalist and communications expert Abbas Hussain. Once a single nation, India and Pakistan were hastily divided by their departing British colonial ruler along religious lines with devastating results, giving rise to one of the world's fiercest geopolitical rivalries. In the nearly eight decades since, the two countries have fought three wars and introduced heavy restrictions on travel and exchanges of goods, despite sharing a border, a culture and a deeply intertwined history. Among that shared culture is a nearly universal love for cinema. Khan's new movie 'Abir Gulaal' references the Hindu festival of colors Holi in its title. Set in London, it tells 'a love story filled with unexpected turns,' according to its synopsis. In the teaser, Khan serenades Indian actor Vaani Kapoor to the tune of a popular Hindi love song. 'Abir Singh, are you flirting?' she asks Khan. 'Do you want me to?' he replies. Khan's impending return to Bollywood is 'heartening news,' Indian film critic and analyst Tanul Thakur said. 'It also reminds us what art can truly achieve: collapsing national boundaries, bringing people closer, and giving the fans a reason to smile,' he said. Anisha Pal, 26, a movie fan and marketing professional from Kolkata, echoed that sentiment. 'I am extremely happy to see him back in Bollywood,' she said. 'Art and artists shouldn't get affected by politics. I think his return sends out a message of hope.' But not everyone is happy. Politicians from India's Hindu-nationalist far right blasted the news of Khan's return and have vowed to derail his film's release. 'Despite saying so many times that films by Pakistani artists will not be released in India, some nasty people still try to push their agenda,' the president of the cinema wing of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), a regional party in Bollywood's home state, wrote on X last week. 'We will not let the film release in India and that's final. Those who want to support Pakistani artists are free to do so, but just remember that you will have to face us.' Neither Khan, nor the movie's producers, have publicly commented on the perceived threats. CNN is attempting to reach them for comment. This isn't the first time Khan has faced the wrath of India's Hindu right. In 2022, his movie 'The Legend of Maula Jatt' – Pakistan's highest grossing film of all time – was banned from release in India following threats from the far-right. 'The amount of business this film has done and the kind of boundaries it's pushed… is going to have a profound effect in the years to come and I hope it continues like that,' Khan told CNN at the time. Despite the hostility of right-wing politicians, many Indian fans say they are open to seeing more Pakistani stars on their screens. 'They have been loved by the Indian audience too,' said Tania Rao, a teacher from Delhi. 'Talent should be appreciated and seen beyond boundaries… I'm excited to see a good actor given a good film, and more hopeful if it aids to sooth the tension that always seems to exist between India and Pakistan.' CNN's Esha Mitra and Deepak Rao in New Delhi and Sophia Saifi in Islamabad contributed reporting.
