Every once in a while, a Pakistani celebrity ventures over to India to try their hand in Bollywood. Sometimes, they're successful. Usually, they're not. However, despite their level of success, their fans "back home" are usually in an uproar over the star "abandoning" their home country.
It's also not always just the audience - anyone remember Shaan Shahid's infamous (and mildly insulting) words about actors going to Bollywood? But even here, on the flip-side, we see Shaan now remaking Mahesh Bhatt's "Arth," conveniently named "Arth 2." Is this hypocrisy at its best? If an actor is so opposed to Pakistani talent going to Bollywood, he should also focus on making original content for Pakistani cinema.
With Zee TV's channel, Zindagi, our actors are coming into the limelight in India. Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Aunn Zara have shot Fawad Afzal Khan and Osmaan Khalid Butt into stardom and both are being loved by the Indian audiences. Indian fans are going as far as saying "These actors should move into Bollywood." But if these actors move to Bollywood, what will Pakistani fans be left with?
The actors who are currently the target of criticism are none other than our biggest star, Fawad Afzal Khan, and one of the industry's biggest "lookers," Imran Abbas. Both are currently promoting their forthcoming Bollywood ventures, Khoobsurat and Creature 3D and have already signed one film each afterwards.
While I understand the disappointment from Fawad fans, I don't really understand the intense anger against him. At one point in Pakistan, stars do stagnate professionally and want more. And the lure of more MONEY is always a tempting one. Even our greatest stars in Pakistan do not get paid in the amounts that Bollywood films would offer them. In this way, I completely understand the lure of working in the Indian industry.
I completely agree that by Fawad going to Bollywood, this means we will see less of him in Pakistan. While Ali Zafar had left our TV screens long ago, we were always given the pleasure of listening to his music. Since his Bollywood ventures began, we have heard very little of him in Pakistan. To my knowledge, I believe the Zindagi Gulzar Hai OST may have been his last Pakistani recording? So YES, on that account, I do understand the discomfort and anger fans may feel.
I think what we can do is hope for the best and hope that our stars continue working in Pakistan as well as working in India. As long as I can see Fawad Khan in an Umera Ahmed, Haissam Hussain or Farhat Ishtiaq drama once a year, I will happily watch him in Bollywood as well. I love Bollywood and I love my own industry. I just don't want one to suffer at the expense of the other. =)
Until then, let's please continue supporting our stars in whatever ventures they choose to embark on. They are, after all, our stars and deserve our support.
Let's hope for the best! And as always, happy watching!
It's also not always just the audience - anyone remember Shaan Shahid's infamous (and mildly insulting) words about actors going to Bollywood? But even here, on the flip-side, we see Shaan now remaking Mahesh Bhatt's "Arth," conveniently named "Arth 2." Is this hypocrisy at its best? If an actor is so opposed to Pakistani talent going to Bollywood, he should also focus on making original content for Pakistani cinema.
With Zee TV's channel, Zindagi, our actors are coming into the limelight in India. Zindagi Gulzar Hai and Aunn Zara have shot Fawad Afzal Khan and Osmaan Khalid Butt into stardom and both are being loved by the Indian audiences. Indian fans are going as far as saying "These actors should move into Bollywood." But if these actors move to Bollywood, what will Pakistani fans be left with?
The actors who are currently the target of criticism are none other than our biggest star, Fawad Afzal Khan, and one of the industry's biggest "lookers," Imran Abbas. Both are currently promoting their forthcoming Bollywood ventures, Khoobsurat and Creature 3D and have already signed one film each afterwards.
While I understand the disappointment from Fawad fans, I don't really understand the intense anger against him. At one point in Pakistan, stars do stagnate professionally and want more. And the lure of more MONEY is always a tempting one. Even our greatest stars in Pakistan do not get paid in the amounts that Bollywood films would offer them. In this way, I completely understand the lure of working in the Indian industry.
I completely agree that by Fawad going to Bollywood, this means we will see less of him in Pakistan. While Ali Zafar had left our TV screens long ago, we were always given the pleasure of listening to his music. Since his Bollywood ventures began, we have heard very little of him in Pakistan. To my knowledge, I believe the Zindagi Gulzar Hai OST may have been his last Pakistani recording? So YES, on that account, I do understand the discomfort and anger fans may feel.
I think what we can do is hope for the best and hope that our stars continue working in Pakistan as well as working in India. As long as I can see Fawad Khan in an Umera Ahmed, Haissam Hussain or Farhat Ishtiaq drama once a year, I will happily watch him in Bollywood as well. I love Bollywood and I love my own industry. I just don't want one to suffer at the expense of the other. =)
Until then, let's please continue supporting our stars in whatever ventures they choose to embark on. They are, after all, our stars and deserve our support.
Let's hope for the best! And as always, happy watching!
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