When true love blossoms then it has the potential of surpassing all barriers – family, fringe elements and even the border. In fact, the border becomes an artificial demarcation line.
Inspired by this theme, filmmaker Shakir Khan, who demonstrated his talent as an associate director in Pardes and Taal , has made a film Ishq ke Parindey .
Using Lucknow as a backdrop, the filmmaker has shown romance brewing between a Pakistani girl and an India boy.
As a creative person, Shakir is worried that the right-wing forces in both countries are trying to create misunderstanding among the public.
“I was inspired to make this film as I know that the awam in both countries wants to live peacefully. We share common history, libaas and zubaan . We share the same cultural heritage but tragically right-wingers on both sides have created fear psychosis.
Also, I feel that instead of spending billions of dollars on defence, both countries need to address the problem of unemployment.”
Noting that hurdles like securing visas between India and Pakistan need to be removed, Shakir says for an Indian it is easier to travel to Dubai than to Pakistan.
“The truth is there is an unending war between the neighbours.”
On casting fresh faces, Shakir says, “As suitability of actors is important I took fresh faces. It becomes easier to mould them and make them work according to your vision.”
Pakistani actors like Mahira Khan are hugely popular in India.
Though the filmmaker seeks to build bridges between the two countries, he did not cast any actor from the neighbouring nation.
“I could have taken a Pakistani actor, who speak flawless Urdu but desisted because I wanted to take the challenge of casting an actor, not conversant in the language to deliver dialogues laced with Urdu words in correct pronunciation.
Therefore, I cast Priyanka Mehta, a Jaipur-based girl, who was initially completely at sea when it came to Urdu, to play a Muslim character.”
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, the filmmaker has focused on the pluralistic traditions of Lucknow.
“Though I belong to Meerut and studied at the Aligarh Muslim University, I am familiar with Lucknow and its famous tameez and tehzeeb,” says Shakir.
