Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; May 5, 2017)

The inaugural edition of the Indian Film Festival and Awards of Australia (IFFAA) has been called off, hours after mid-day reported about the Indian diaspora objecting to the participation of Pakistani film stars at the week-long event. Visiting Bollywood celebrities had also expressed apprehension over sharing the stage with artistes from across the border.

Relations between the two countries had suffered a blow last September following a terror attack on the Army base in Uri, Kashmir, killing 17 Indian soldiers. The situation was limping back to normalcy when Pakistani forces killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies along the Line of Control on May 1.

Festival director Vvikas Paul says, “I have received threats from vested interest groups and was worried about the security of my celebrity guests, myself, sponsors and my team. So, we have decided to defer it.” Outrage on social media with netizens labelling the festival as anti-Indian was also a reason for canceling the event that was to kick off on May 7. “We will hold the festival when relations between the two countries improve.”

Among the Pakistani celebrities expected to attend the event were Humayun Saeed, Imran Abbas, Hareem Farooq, Ali Azmat and former Pakistani Censor Board chief Fakhr Alam. The seven day film festival was planned to showcase films and talent from India, Pakistan and Nepal culminating in a star studded awards night on May 13. The Bollywood guest list included Jeetendra, Randhir Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Ileana D’Cruz, Sonu Nigam, Sonu Sood and a few other celebrities from the Punjab film industry.

MID-DAY (October 31, 2016)

Despite the current India-Pakistan tension, Pooja Bhatt winged her way to Karachi to celebrate Diwali. The actress-turned-filmmaker is being hosted by singer Ali Azmat (of Junoon band fame). Pooja is known to give a break to talent from across the border, but this time it's a personal trip. She had premiered her directorial debut, Paap, at the Karachi Film Festival in 2003.

Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; February 3, 2015)

Pakistani singer-actor Ali Zafar has brought together 50 famous faces of his country in his new music video to pay tribute to the Peshawar school massacre victims. On December 16 last year, Taliban gunmen stormed a military-run school in Peshawar, leading to the loss of 141 lives, most of them children.

Titled Urainge, the song holds the promise of a secure future and the resolve to stay united during testing times. Says Ali, “I want to give out the message that the entire nation is together in this hour of crisis. Although the mood is grave right now, I believe that it is important to think positively and hope for a better future.”

The video will feature Pakistani celebs from different fields, including cricketer Shoaib Malik, actors Fawad Khan, Humaima Malick, Mahira Khan and singer Ali Azmat. Veteran guitarist Asad Ahmad has lent his six-string skills to the song.

Excerpts from the song

Urainge uss aasman mein,
Rahainge aisay jahaan mein,
Jahaan dard ka koi maara na ho,
Akaila na ho be-sahaara na ho…
(We will fly in such a sky, live in such a world, where no one quivers in pain, nor is lonely or helpless…)

Mustafa Zahid, who sang Zaroorat from Ek Villain, on his reasons for making music and his connection with melodies and originality
Neha Maheshwri Bhagat (BOMBAY TIMES; June 6, 2014)