How are you coping with the threat to your professional career in India and your personal survival in Pakistan?
I’m trying not to make a big deal about it because such controversies have happened in Pakistan earlier too. It’s the work of some shararati log, jealous rivals who want to sabotage my career there and discredit me in the eyes of my people. My question to my detractors is, “How can you decide what I did was wrong without even seeing the film?”
It’s easy to jump to conclusions because the Bhatts are known for their bold, sexually explicit films like Jism, Rog and Murder .The promos of Nazarr and its stills are pretty steamy too.
Nazarr is not a bold film. It’s a beautiful film with one chhota si kiss. Being the first Indo-Pak co-production it is a big step in cementing cultural exchange. The Pakistan film fraternity should applaud me for paving the path for other Meeras. And the Hindi film industry, its big-wigs like Salman and Shah Rukh Khan, should stand up for Maheshji and me. They are respected people. If they speak up for me people will listen to them.
Why would they want to get involved?
The Khans are household idols across the border. There’s a huge Rs 50 crore market waiting for them in Pakistan. Improving relations between the two nations will give them the chance to tap this market. If Shah Rukh is paid Rs 5 crore today, he’ll get paid double that if he can facilitate an official release for his films in Pakistan. That goes for other top-ranking actors too like Rani Mukerji, Salman and Meera too. Through this turmoil there’s been no problems with the Pakistani government. Contrary to media reports I have not been fined nor have my colleagues been banned from crossing over.
Your explanation is not going to appease the religious fundamentalists in your country. Even the skimpy clothes you wear in the film can become an issue of contention.
I don’t know what they are objecting to in the first place because Punjabi and Pushtu films are far more vulgar. I’d never do anything jisse mein apni nazron mein gir jaoon. But I’m a professional actor and I have a responsibility towards my director. But I don’t think my wardrobe will raise any questions because we wear modern clothes even in Pakistan.
It is being alleged that this is nothing more than a publicity stunt?
I can’t afford this kind of negative publicity in Pakistan. I would not deliberately put my career there and my family’s welfare at stake to hype up my film. This kind of a stunt would not benefit the film across the border. It’s not going to be screened at any theatre there though I know all my fans will watch Nazarr at home, on DVD, without adding an extra paisa to the revenue (Sighs).I’m a very positive girl. I want to work on either side of the border without any ill-will.
Mahesh Bhatt has been quoted as saying that the controversy has been triggered off to check the talent drain from Pakistan. Would you agree?
I know filmmakers didn’t want me to come here, they didn’t want to lose me. Earlier too, some of our great talents like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Adnan Sami had shifted base to India. People there are beginning to feel insecure. But I don’t want to be confined to Pakistan. Want to do quality work in India, may be Hollywood too. It’s stifling to be a frog in a well. Art knows no boundaries. For me there’s no difference between Hindustan and Pakistan.
But surely your predicament could scare away other actors from coming to India?
If I can work in India nothing is impossible. The film industry in Pakistan is dying anyway.
The biggest grouse of your fraternity has been that many of our films were anti-Pakistan and hurt their sentiments.
All five fingers are not the same. Even at home, if five people live together, khitpit to hoti hi hai. If there have been films on war there have been films about dosti too. We should not take it personally because even in real life if some people want India and Pakistan to build bridges, others are intent on burning them. Every coin has two sides and what you see on screen only mirrors what you see in life. I liked Gadar. I thought Veer-Zaara was good too. And both were very different films.
You worked closely with Sanjay Dutt on the Tsunami Relief Concert, getting fellow actors to perform for the cause.
(Proudly) The Tsunami hit only India, not Pakistan. But by collaborating with Sanjay Dutt we showed that we were there for the Hindi film industry during a crisis. If this is not dosti what is? We don’t have to put our jaan hatheli par to exhibit our support for your country.
What made you adopt a very Indian and Hindu name for the screen?
I guess, there must have been some years old tie with India. A connection of the soul. Meera is a beautiful name...Kishen ka Meera.