Veteran yesteryear actress Mumtaz shared several pictures and reels with Pakistani actors and singers on her recent visit to Pakistan while she advocated for lifting off the embargo on artistes from the neighboring country.
She visited the country along with her sister Mallika a few days ago.
In a recent interview with Zoom, she talked about the hospitality of Pakistani artistes in the neighbouring country while stressing on the need for lifting ban on Pakistani singers and actors.
“They should be allowed to come and work here. They are talented. I agree we have no dearth of talent in the Mumbai film industry. Lekin unhe bhi mauka milna chahiye (But they should also get work opportunities in Bollywood),” she said during the conversation.
The ban on Pakistani artistes working in India was implemented following the Pulwama terror attack in 2016. The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) had said that they won’t work with Pakistani artistes, because of “security” and “patriotism”.
On her visit, Mumtaz met artistes like Fawad Khan, Ghulam Ali, Ashan Khan and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. She said that Fawad booked an entire restaurant for her while Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, known for for hit songs like “Teri Ore,” “Ore Piya,” “Jag Soona Soona Lage,’ etc, sang for Mumtaz despite not keeping well.
The “Do Raaste” actress while speaking about the similarities between Indians and Pakistanis said how the citizens of both countries have a lot in common. “Woh log hum logon se bilkul alag nahin hain (They are no different from us). Everywhere that I went, people came forward to shower me and my sister with love and gifts. Ek kalakaar isse zyada aur kya chahta hai (What more can an artist ask for)? They knew all my films, all my songs (sic),” expressed an elated Mumtaz.
She also shared a picture with renowned classical singer Ghulam Ali from her recent Pakistan tour calling it “special”.
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