Fawad Khan's Humsafar was part of its roster till 2016

Four years after Pakistani shows were pulled down from Indian television, Zindagi chief Shailja Kejriwal reveals how channel is being relaunched with original series
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 23, 2020)

Last year, it was heard that Saba Qamar (right), the leading lady of Irrfan's Hindi Medium (2016), was set to headline a ZEE5 show. The development was difficult to stomach since Indian cine bodies had announced a collective ban on Pakistani artistes post the 2016 Uri attacks. Nine months since, we seem to have found the answer as ZEE5 announced the relaunch of Zindagi channel, which used to curate Pakistani, Turkish and other Middle-Eastern dramas for the Indian audience. In 2016, it removed shows developed in the neighbouring country from its slate.

Shailja Kejriwal (left; below), chief creative officer — special projects, Zee Entertainment, reveals that the channel will also develop original content in its second outing. "The love for Zindagi shows has remained undeterred [in these years], and we believe that art is the biggest propagator of social change. It is a mix of these two factors that encouraged us to bring Zindagi on ZEE5. While we offered the best curated shows in phase one, this time around, the offering extends to producing original content."

The decision may face flak given the strained equation between the two neighbouring countries. However, Kejriwal is optimistic. "In today's world, art needs to make a statement. Borders shouldn't exist beyond the politics of things and love must override the circulation of hate," she says.

Laying out her vision for the first year, she informs that 29 shows are on the anvil, including Shehr-e-Zaat, Mastana Mahi and Aunn Zaara. "We will announce our first original shortly."

Quiz her if she is referring to the Qamar-fronted show, and she weighs her words, "Saba is doing a project for us. We had a wonderful time working together over Skype and Zoom calls. She is happy to do something for us after witnessing the massive success of Hindi Medium."

Kejriwal notes that the channel had made Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan household names in India. "In its first round, it brought many new faces to this country and they became overnight sensations. We will do it this time, too. There's a certainty of Mahira, Fawad and Saba returning [to the screen]."


Mahira Khan headline the channel's new offerings

MUMBAI MIRROR (March 26, 2018)

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who made her Bollywood debut with the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Raees last year, says the Hindi film industry was never her aim. The film released in January last year, just a few months after bilateral tensions intensified following the Uri attack on September 18, 2016 which left 19 Indian soldiers dead. India retaliated on September 28 with surgical strikes on Pakistan terror camps. Raees did not release in Pakistan and Mahira was not allowed to promote the film in India as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena issued a ban on Pakistani artistes.

“At that time, I was sad and angry,” she admitted to BBC World News, saying today she’s come to a place where she believes anger doesn’t make her a better actor or do anything for her as a person, so she’s let go of it.

Mahira goes on to say that “Bollywood was never really the aim” and right after Raees, she started working on a Pakistani film Verna, even before all of this happened. “My focus was always Pakistan,” she asserted, adding that while people may perceive it as a “big jolt” to her career, she has moved on and she’s a part of a movement in the Pakistan film industry. “Because how I look at it, is that 20 years from now when either my son or kids from today want to become actors, we would have set this industry for them, where they won’t have to struggle so much.” The 33-year-old actress has a son named Azlan. Her film Verna, which is based on the rape culture and politics in Pakistan, has reportedly rubbed many in Pakistan the wrong way. With freedom of expression getting suppressed in her home country, has she ever considered shifting base to another country? “I don’t think that I can tell any story better than the story of my own country, than stories of my own countrymen. I want to be able to bring out stories like Verna, as well as stories which are of the modern and new generation like Ho Mann Jahaan on the youth of Pakistan. I want to be that person,” she asserted, adding, “Because we are artistes, I think that’s a problem we all suffer. We are dreamers, so we are constantly looking at what is going to happen. Honestly, that’s all I’m thinking about all the time, that one day I will go to a cinema house and there just won’t be enough space to fill it.”

Mahira is currently filming for Saat Din Mohabbat In and Maula Jatt 2.

DNA (January 19, 2018)

This relationship was always known to have an expiry date. The friendship between Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor and Pakistani actress, Mahira Khan (who was the leading lady of Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees) had a sell-by-date to it from the day it began. A source says, “Their friendship has fizzled out. Ranbir and Mahira will always remain cordial but that’s because of the kind of people they are.”

Tracing the history
The duo reportedly met through a common friend, a top Hindi cinema actor. There was instant chemistry and they took their friendship to another level by meeting each other at foreign locations like Dubai, London, and New York. Till the last quarter of 2017, Ranbir was clocking up air miles to keep up with his good friend, Mahira.

What could have gone wrong...
Since the nature of their relationship was never made official, everything written here is conjecture. One hears that after their photographs went viral around October last year, there was hell to pay for the concerned parties. Not only were both celebs caught smoking on camera, Mahira was also dressed ‘inappropriately’ according to the standards in her country. To make matters worse, she was seen looking rather comfortable with an actor of another faith.

The update
One hears that just before they rang in the New Year, this young couple, both of whom are extremely good looking and popular, decided to cool off. As mentioned earlier, they are cordial but their friendship has run out of steam. Meanwhile, there are strong rumours to suggest that Ranbir and his Brahmastra co-actor Alia Bhatt are spending a lot of time with each other. Even over the New Year, they flew across to Israel to exercise with movement coach Ido Portal. Filmmaker Ayan Mukerji, who is a common friend of the two actors, also accompanied them. While these are early days and their outing seemed like an all-work break, one hears that Alia, who has in the past acknowledged that she has always been a Ranbir fan, is happy that she’s finally getting to know him. As for RK, he has maintained that Alia is the brightest actress of Gen Now.

MUMBAI MIRROR (November 9, 2017)

Mirror (September 22) had earlier reported that after meeting at a charity gala in Dubai, Ranbir Kapoor and Mahira Khan continued with their cross-border friendship. After pictures of the couple in New York went viral, the actor released a statement clarifying that he had got to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months and he admires and respects her for her achievements, and even more for the person she is. “It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives,” he asserted.

Mahira finally opened up on the subject to a Pakistani website, Something Haute, admitted that she had often thought of responding to the controversy too. “I’m a very strong woman but when all of this happened, I was completely shattered and broken. I would think about posting a statement every day. Then I would stop myself because I just wouldn’t know what to say,” the 32-year-old Pakistani actress who made her Bollywood debut in Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees, this year, was quoted as saying.

She added that she understands where all the criticism came from. “It didn’t come from a place of hate. I’m not talking about the trolls but those who were genuinely disappointed to see those pictures. It’s the same disappointment that my nani or my mamoo would have felt seeing that. So even now when I meet an older lady who says that she didn’t like the pictures, I’m quick to apologise,” she asserted.

Mahira stated that people often ask her if she is a good role model for her fans and her response is, “I am a good role model but I’m not the perfect role model. I am human, I make mistakes. And I was really happy to see that there were so many people who stood up for me. It goes to show that the narrative in Pakistan is changing, and if nothing else, I’m happy to have been part of that narrative,” she reiterated.

DNA (November 8, 2017)

Like most B-Town actors, Ranbir Kapoor too has been busy collecting air miles on a regular basis. While a lot of the stamps on his passport are for work purposes, there have been more than a few that he has acquired after becoming close friends with Mahira Khan. Says a source, “Ranbir and Mahira can’t catch up on either of their home turfs, so they meet whenever they are in other cities. While they were snapped in New York together, they have also hung out in Dubai and London with a bunch of friends.”

RK’s work schedule
Ranbir has been prepping for buddy Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra that’s been produced by Karan Johar and has Alia Bhatt alongside him. The source adds, “After the release of Jagga Jasoos, RK has been preparing for Ayan’s film, but since he wasn’t shooting for any film, he had some free time on hand that allowed him to travel frequently. But once he begins shooting, his trips will reduce.”

Staying away
Though Ranbir may make frequent trips to the airport, the actor, who likes to keep a low-profile is hardly ever spotted by the paps. While RK and Mahira were snapped in New York, they have managed to stay away from prying cameras most of the time.

Actress stands up for Mahira Khan, who was slut-shamed, and rues that it's hard for celebs to have a normal life
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 26, 2017)

MUMBAI MIRROR (September 22, 2017)

After getting along like a house on fire at a star-studded charity gala in Dubai, Ranbir Kapoor and Mahira Khan have continued to maintain their cross-border friendship.

Mumbai Mirror was the first to tell you (July 18) that the 34-year-old actor and the 32-year-old actress (who got divorced from her husband, Ali Askari, a couple of years ago and is mother to a young boy) were introduced by common friends from the film industry and took a shine to each other almost immediately.

According to a source, Ranbir and Mahira have been in touch for the past one year and recently met during a trip to New York.

MUMBAI MIRROR (July 18, 2017)

Buzz is, Ranbir Kapoor and Mahira Khan have struck up a close friendship. Seems the 34-year-old actor and the 32-year-old actress (who got divorced from her husband, Ali Askari, a couple of years ago and is mother to a young boy) were introduced by common friends from the film industry and took a shine to each other almost immediately.

Of course, Mahira, whose Bollywood debut, Raees, with Shah Rukh Khan released on January 25, hasn’t been to India after the ban on Pakistani actors. She wasn’t even a part of the publicity campaign that led up to the release of the film and was reportedly a bit cut up about it, making her displeasure evident in some interviews to foreign news agencies.

According to a source, Ranbir and Mahira met during one of their trips abroad and got along like a house on fire. “They have stayed in touch ever since,” adds the source.

The actress who is very popular in Pakistani films and television serials, had wanted to do more movies in Bollywood, but with the ban on Pakistani artistes firmly in place, the desire may remain a pipe dream. For now, she will have to be content with having a good friend in Bollywood.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 7, 2017)

Ranbir Kapoor revisits his debut days, parties with Pakistani actress Mahira Khan in Dubai
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 21, 2017)

On Sunday, Ranbir Kapoor and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan held court at the Global Teacher Prize gala in Dubai, giving speeches, interacting with fans and shaking a leg at the after-party. The duo, representing their respective countries, also shared the stage with West Indies and Sri Lankan cricketing legends, Brian Lara and Aravinda de Silva, spiritual leader Sadhguru, footballer Dwight York, author-host Bear Gillis and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Al Maktoum. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined via video conferencing.

On the red carpet, Ranbir, who’d arrived with Mumbai-based businessman, filmmaker and football team owner Bunty Walia (a regular fixture at the annual Varkey Foundation event), was greeted with a hug from Mahira. The Raees actress’s friend, fashion designer-entrepreneur Huma Adnan, gifted him a custom-made Nehru jacketstyle sherwani from Amir Adnan’s special edition and the actor promised to wear it soon. Ranbir in a black tuxedo and diamond ear-stud, and Mahira in a fiery red Faraz Manan outfit, sizzled together, setting their fans on a “cast them together” trend on the social media.

Ranbir introduced two video messages, from England’s Prince Harry and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and received a roaring applause for his own speech, which he had been rigorously rehearsing backstage earlier. “As an actor, I’ve often thought of how acting and teaching are close cousins. Both require limitless reserves of energy and enthusiasm. Both require humour, empathy, a gift for expressing ideas and holding the attention of an audience. And, both are jobs that come with homework in the after-hours,” he noted, admitting that he has memories of spending a great deal of quality time outside the classroom instead of inside it. “People think that I am an actor because my parents (father Rishi Kapoor and mother Neetu Singh) are actors. But, in truth, the only reason I wanted to become an actor was to get away from studies. I even took one-line roles, small parts in the background in theatre productions, so that I could bunk classes.”

After the show, the 34-year-old actor shared that the two teachers in his life who stand out are his second grade Hindi teacher, Mr Khanna, who was like a parent to him, and National Award-winning filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who launched him as an actor in his 2007 film, Saawariya. “Bhansali sir beat the craft out of me. He also taught me everything I know about films today. My experience of the best teachers is that they can detect potential — even when a student, and in my case an actor, with the many glittering distractions of youth, is doing their best to waste or ignore their talents. Without teachers much of this potential would go unused,” Ranbir reflected.

Mahira shared that she’d been running a high fever on Friday and had initially intended to give the event a miss. RK also revealed that he wasn’t expected to be at the event until much later but was glad that he had made it.

The after-party began at 9pm. An Italian band had been flown into Dubai’s sea-facing Atlantis The Palm for the all-nighter. A video of Ranbir and Mahira engaged in an animated conversation went viral from the event. The Pakistani actress put all speculation, that she was pleading with the Indian actor, to rest by saying that they were just catching up, discussing work and recalling how she had so wanted to promote her Bollywood debut with her co-star Shah Rukh Khan on either side of the border. While Mahira stayed back, Ranbir left the party early, and was back in Mumbai on Monday afternoon to attend another event.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2017)

Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 21, 2017)

With Pakistani actress Mahira Khan failing to arrive in the country close on the heels of the release of her upcoming film, Raees, leading actor Shah Rukh Khan has been on a solo promotional spree. However, hitlist has learnt that fans of the star on international turfs may be able get a glimpse of the duo together, as Mahira will reunite with her on screen co-star for the Dubai round of the film’s promotions.

Buzz is, it was SRK’s decision to kick off the promotions in the UAE before heading for the India tour. A source informs that Mahira was spotted at Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates a couple of days ago, while another adds, “Mahira will join Shah Rukh and Rahul at the Bollywood Amusement Park in Dubai. Over the two-day promotional schedule, they will also visit malls and interact with the local media.” The duo had earlier even shot for a song in the Middle East.

Responding to questions pertaining to the ban of Pakistani artistes in India following the 2016 Uri attacks, Mahira had stated to a local channel across the border, “I feel bad. When you put so much effort and hard work in a project, you wish to see the results. The film is very special.” In order to facilitate a smooth release of their film, SRK along with producer Ritesh Sidhwani had earlier visited Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. Through the hour-long discussion, Thackeray had reportedly agreed on the condition that Mahira wouldn’t fly down to India for the promotions.

Talking about her absence, director Rahul Dholakia had earlier stated, “We do miss Mahira a lot and she is an integral part of the film. But in such a scenario, there is nothing that’s left to be done. She had come down to Mumbai a few years ago and executed the audition scenes beautifully.”

The production house refused to comment.

DNA (January 19, 2017)

There were reports in a section of the press that Pakistani actress and Raees’s leading lady Mahira Khan would be interviewed over Skype with a section of the Indian media.

This isn’t true at all. Sources in the know say Mahira will keep “very quiet” about her appearance in Raees.

Says a source close to the film, “There will be no media interactions with Mahira. All the media interactions in Mumbai will be with Shah Rukh and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Besides Mumbai, there will be no other city promotions for Raees, as Shah Rukh doesn’t do city promotions.”

Also, Raees could well be the first film to be released in Pakistan after the lifting of the ban on Indian films in that country.

BOMBAY TIMES (January 9, 2017)

MUMBAI MIRROR (December 19, 2016)

Cinemas in Pakistan will start screening Indian movies from today as exhibitors and theatre-owners lifted the temporary self-imposed suspension imposed after escalating Indo-Pak tensions following the Uri terror attack. Movies which were missed and could not be screened due to the suspension will be screened first, starting with Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Freaky Ali.

According to sources, most of the cinema owners, exhibitors and importers of Indian films had got panicky after Pakistani films, old and fresh releases and even latest Hollywood movies, failed to fill up the theatres. Some owners are still apprehensive of backlash from religious parities or groups once they resumed screening of Indian films and have asked for protection if required.

The media and marketing manager of a major chain of cineplexes, Sabina Islam, said 75 per cent of the revenues generated in the industry came from screening of Indian films. Pakistan is considered the third largest market for Indian films. Indian movies returned to Pakistani cinema houses in 2008 after a 43-year-long hiatus imposed during the 1965 war.
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Following losses, theatre owners open doors to Hindi films. Are we still fussing over Mahira?
Usman Ghafoor in Islamabad (MID-DAY; December 19, 2016)

Cinema owners in Pakistan have lifted the self-imposed ban on Bollywood movies. Starting yesterday, theatres restarted shows, initially of earlier releases. Newer films will be screened after they are duly imported from India, via Dubai or the UK, which involves acquiring NOC from the Information Ministry.

The ones in the pipeline include Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, whose distribution rights have reportedly been acquired by an influential media group of the country.

Producers, directors and studio owners of good ol’ Lollywood are raising their voice against cinema owners. Filmmaker Syed Noor calls it one big “ban drama” that played out against the backdrop of Indo-Pak tension: “At the time when they self-imposed it, cinema owners knew the government’s stance; they knew the spirit of antagonism [towards India] that was in the air. The month of Moharram was starting, and there were no interesting films lined up. So, one fine morning, they decided to show their ‘national spirit’ by announcing the ban. The entire world knows Indian films were being imported as a ‘foreign’ item. Who are they misleading?”

Cinema owners, on the other hand, seem united under All Pakistan Film Exhibitors’ Association (APFEA), an umbrella organisation led by Zoraiz Lashari of a noted cineplex in Lahore. They were major stakeholders in the entire situation, where some of them were forced to shut their cinemas and lay off staff. Zoraiz says, “It was a reaction to what India did. They banned our artistes, which wasn’t agreeable. We wanted to show our resentment. Looking back, I think the matter just got blown out of proportion, on both sides. Frankly, art should not have boundaries. Even if you want to control it, you can’t.”

Can’t the Pak cinema industry survive without Bollywood? Zoraiz says, “It’s not exactly about Bollywood; it’s the question of survival of our cinema industry in the face of a situation where Pakistan isn’t churning out sufficient number of films sufficient to run theatres round the year. We’re making about 15-20 films, and not all are expected to be blockbusters. The ratio of box office success is generally the same, if you talk about Bollywood movies also. But their movie turnout is great. That ensures people keep coming to the cinemas. The highest grossing film in Pakistan incidentally is the locally produced Jawani Phir Nahin Ani (2015).”

Producer-director Shehzad Rafiq agrees: “We don’t want our cinema to die of suffocation. Since the ban on Indian films, we’ve seen the public response — they are missing Bollywood. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that they haven’t returned to theatres ever since. Two recent releases, Dobara Phir Se and Lahore Se Aagay, bombed at the box office although they’d been heavily promoted and backed by a top TV network.”