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It's sad how Bollywood can't be a sustainable choice for Pakistani actors: Mikaal Zulfiqar
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It's sad how Bollywood can't be a sustainable choice for Pakistani actors: Mikaal Zulfiqar

The actor offers his take on how tensions between India and Pakistan reflect on films in the subcontinent
Images Staff
25 Oct, 2016

After Fawad Khan, Mahira Khan, Shaan Shahid and more have spoken about how tensions between India and Pakistan are affecting the film industry, the latest actor to sound off is Mikaal Zulfiqar.

In a post on Facebook attached to a picture of himself with Indian actors Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah, the actor stated that he wasn't surprised that relations have deteriorated following the Uri incident. "I personally first experienced this back in 2009," he said. "Every time there has been serious political tension between the countries, multiple spheres suffer — including the arts."

The actor admitted that working in Bollywood is an "attractive prospect" for Pakistani actors, and said he continues to receive offers to work across the border. However, he feels that working in Bollywood is not a sustainable career choice, given that tensions between the two countries may bubble up at any time.

"In Pakistan we have all the potential to make a valuable contribution to the arts and culture locally, nationally, regionally and internationally - we just need better support from our own society," he continued. "It is up to Pakistanis to support, encourage and value local talent."

The actor fully endorsed a reversal of the current situation though, saying: "I firmly believe in peace between the two countries and our communities... It is very sad when tensions spill over, it divides the very mechanisms that have the capacity to unite us. Culture reflects and mirrors our society - and what sadder reality is there when even our cultural spheres are denied the opportunity to collaborate."

Comments

Aamer Oct 25, 2016 05:46pm
Bollywood was never a sustainable choice for Pakistani actors. In the past Zeba Bakhtiar and Mohsin Khan had some success but in the end had to come back to Pakistan. Why cant Pakistani actors try Hollywood. If ugly Farida Pinto, Prinanka and Depika can get Hollywood films why cant Mahvish Hayat, Sanam Saeed, Saba Qamer and Armina Rana can star in Hollywood movie. Mikal Zulfiqar was a flop himself in Bollywood.
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Nelson Oct 25, 2016 05:59pm
All in all Bollywood is like a launching pad of the entailment side of things to Pakistani artist which has a huge regional and international reach. The loss or non availability of this launching pad is a paradox of a kind . Where in one place it I leads to distructive results and in another place it makes a constructive contribution. Should we go after this launch pads and deny both constructive and destructive outcomes.
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Giri Oct 25, 2016 06:11pm
@Aamer : You should ask this question to Hollywood. Hope before that you will realize that you need acting talent to act in movies. And your standard of so called beauty may not be same as that of others.
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Mahesh Ali Bhatt Oct 25, 2016 06:21pm
@Aamer : Dear friend, Priyanka was Miss world! and Deepika is by no means ugly. Farida Pinto well needs a special mention as she was chosen by Mr. Boyle ! Your actresses are beautiful too, but the are more meant for desi cinema.
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Asif Oct 25, 2016 06:31pm
@AAMER Hollywood is one of the industry were looks hardly decide fate of an artist, its talent and only talent that they choose.........so calling anybody 'Ugly' based on looks demeans your own intellect. Good Wishes!!
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Citizen Oct 25, 2016 06:42pm
@Aamer, because Hollywood audiences are more mature than your ones,
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LK Oct 25, 2016 06:52pm
@Aamer And who said Frida Pinto, Priyanka Chopra, and Deepika Padukone are ugly? Most people will agree they are stunningly attractive and talented ladies...! They may not fit your stereotype of the "fair and lovely" kind - poor you!! Unfortunately for you, that is not the standard most people use to judge acting talent...
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Masood Hussain Oct 25, 2016 06:53pm
Your every word is absolutely right,Mr.Mikaal Zulfiquar.
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Rashid Oct 25, 2016 06:59pm
I have many Indian friends in USA. We get along very well. As a Pakistani, I find Indians to be normal loving and friendly. Politics and religion would makes matters the way they are now between the two countries. I pray and hope Pakistan and India can be good neighbors and live in peace side by side. We love Indian films and music and do not hate Indians. We want to play Cricket with them and beat them fare and square - I hope.
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johntitor Oct 25, 2016 07:09pm
@Aamer because hollywood casts on the basis of acting talent not fair complexion.
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johntitor Oct 25, 2016 07:10pm
@Aamer
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Enkay Oct 25, 2016 07:17pm
It is imperative for the Pakistani Members of the Performing Arts - for the next Ten Years of so - to put all their energies into the "Development" of the Pakistani Performing Arts by working in the Pakistani Performing Arts Sector so that in Ten Years time the Performing Arts will be on Par with the Indian and possibly US Performing Arts. Then "Foreign" Performing Arts Sector will reach out to Pakistani Members to Perform in their Sector. This will go a long way to open their Performing Sectors to Pakistani Performers. Best of Luck
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deepak Oct 25, 2016 07:27pm
@Aamer being an actor in hollywood is just not beauty,
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Axomiya Oct 25, 2016 07:29pm
@Aamer My dear, to start acting in Hollywood first you need to be able to act and secondly have good looks. Priyanka Chopra, Freida Pinto and Deepika Padukone all of them have both.
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Muhammad Oct 25, 2016 07:37pm
@Aamer The reason is that in Hollywood an actor is required to do atleast one intimate scene (most of the time if not always) which Pakistani actors might not be comfortable in doing or our public wont accept that esp for females like Mahira, Sanam, Urwa, Marwa, Saba etc.
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MJ Khan Oct 25, 2016 07:40pm
@Aamer Unfortunately dark skin is considered beautiful and exotic in the west. So they prefer brown Indian girls as epitomes of beauty.
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Rizwan Oct 25, 2016 08:04pm
From now on even in peace the gates of Bollywood have been closed for Pakistani actors. The Indian producers eill not forget the losses they will have to face because of the entire episode. Do you think they will be ready for another risk? Additionally, we keep highlighting that local parties did not allow the films to release - there reality was completely different.
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madhusudan Oct 25, 2016 08:33pm
@Aamer ugly priyanka freida according to you, but not in the eyes of hollywood.
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Irfan Oct 25, 2016 08:38pm
We Pakistanis should come our of this obsession for Indian films and film stars. If we can come out of this then only we can do something good for Pakistan otherwise we will always be under the shadow of our big brother.
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Ashwin Oct 25, 2016 09:32pm
@IRFAN Best comment. 100% true. Pakistani people and industry should fully follow it. It will really help to preserve your culture and nurture it.
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SK Oct 25, 2016 09:42pm
@LK I totally agree, Frieda, Priyanka, Deepika may not be fair but are beautiful and talented. And our actresses are fair and hell YES they are talented too. I think Mikaal is absolutely right that our own people can support them, they might not even need to go to Hollywood.
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Irfan ul Huq Oct 25, 2016 09:55pm
@Mahesh Ali Bhatt Mahesh just ignore Aamer . This is no way to talk about neighbor.
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Ganesh Oct 25, 2016 10:05pm
Suggest him to pursue career in Pakistan 'IT '.... That at the moment seems like more sustainable though not very long...
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TBH Oct 25, 2016 10:32pm
@Aamer you need to ask why Priyanka was Miss world and Mr. Boyle why he chose Pinto and Hollywood why they choose Indian actress.
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Robu Oct 25, 2016 11:11pm
Question is wrong. its not just Bollywood.. its everywhere they go.. no one trust them,.
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Indian Oct 25, 2016 11:26pm
@Aamer Why don't you guys try Chinese films instead? Iron brothers
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Indian Oct 25, 2016 11:30pm
Pakistan always wanted to be apart from India. You got your wish 70 years ago. India for sure does not want any part of Pakistan's culture or economy or religion or politics or films. With the same token India does not need to host Pakistani actors especially when main discourse in all spheres of life in Pakistan is Anti India. So live with what you wished for and do not eye India's prosperity. If you have capability create your own prosperity or live with the sad results of separating from India.
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xXx Oct 25, 2016 11:44pm
Aamer,before getting hollywood entry your actresses should learn fluent english speaking.
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Vinod Narang Oct 26, 2016 01:08am
@Aamer If you think Farida Pinto, Priyanka and Deepika are ugly you need to do two things 1. get your eyes checked. Priyanaka is one of the top actresses in India and also in Hollywood. She was Miss Universe when she was 19. 2. Learn how to spell names .If you cannot spell please F7 to do a spell check and it will fix errors. There is no doubt that there are lots of absolutely beautiful Pakistani actresses who can do a real good job in Hollywood .
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Khanji Oct 26, 2016 01:56am
@Aamer beautifully said
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Khanji Oct 26, 2016 01:59am
@Giri you are misguided. No Indian actor in Hollywood is there because of their so called acting. Actors like them are dime a dozen. They serve a purpose and character demand for an dark skinned person. All Indian actors are below average at best by Hollywood standards. And yes, they are mostly unattractive.
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Khwarezmi Oct 26, 2016 02:22am
To be successful in Bollywood you have to do like Adnan Sami and become hostile to your own country. Only that will satisfy RSS.
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Pramod Chopra Oct 26, 2016 02:47am
@Irfan Well that's a BIG if..
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Jigar USA Oct 26, 2016 03:15am
How many beauty queens (miss universe, miss world or miss Asia) have come from pakistan and india, Where is the real beauty? Where there are queens there are also prince.
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syed ali Oct 26, 2016 03:33am
An actor doesn't have to have pretty face, Hollywood has its own metrics and so is Bollywood.
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bala Oct 26, 2016 04:09am
Its sad how the pakistani film industry is not sustainable for pakistani actors.... WE have a billion poppulation...we need to serve our people first
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kit kit Oct 26, 2016 04:39am
@Aamer Frida Pinto is ugly? really. she is beautiful. piryanka and deepika are very average looking but they are well connected
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Titan Oct 26, 2016 07:07am
@Aamer : Fortunately Hollywood & the rest of the world are not as shallow as you folks. Keep your white skin & stay where you are.
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anil sahu Oct 26, 2016 07:55am
@Aamer Fair complexion is not a parameter of beauty? how many pak actress can dance and fight? see priyanka chopra how much she is giving ...
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periyar soothu Oct 26, 2016 08:23am
we have enough talented Hindu actors in India and we do not need Muslims in Bollywood
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Akil Akhtar Oct 26, 2016 09:44am
Can our artists think of anything other than money. Is 1-2 lakh rupees per episode that they earn from Pakistani dramas not enough......
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pete chan Oct 26, 2016 11:45am
@Aamer : speaking English may be the problem for your countrymen and women - Hindi possibly they can manage, but English is tough :)
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timetostopthis Oct 26, 2016 01:53pm
@Aamer I feel sorry for you with your shallow views on the definition of beauty. Beauty is not only about being fair and lovely. Otherwise black actors would not be so successful in Hollywood. Priyanka Chopra has become Miss World and Freida Pinto is a very accomplished and successful actress in the West. Besides, Bollywood and Hollywood don't go by looks alone. Talent is equally important. And beautiful doesn't necessarily mean talented.
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Aamer Oct 26, 2016 02:20pm
@pete chan How hard is English? the girls i mentioned they speak English.
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Aamer Oct 26, 2016 02:44pm
@Titan i never said anything about white skin.
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Hammad Zahid Qureshi Oct 26, 2016 03:26pm
Lets raise our own standards, industry & dignity. Lets stand on our feet. Forget B'Wood. It will be difficult in the beginning but I must gladly say that we are already on track. Things will definitely get better, they have to be.
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Prakash Prabhakar Dhumal Oct 26, 2016 03:47pm
@Khwarezmi You are unique intelligent!
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S. A. M. Oct 26, 2016 05:03pm
it's not a good idea to continue lamenting on loss of opportunity to work in Bollywood. I and many people like me have had attempts to find work in companies. there were times we didn't succeed but did I just sat and kept on weeping over why I didn't get my favourite job. once I learnt I'm not getting it that job became my past. without wasting a second I focussed on something else and believe me I did got even a better one. if our artists are not getting employment in Bollywood probably there is something better waiting for them. remember Bollywood is past.
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Arvind Oct 27, 2016 12:07pm
@Indian Very well said... Maybe the Chinese women are more beautiful than Fridas and Priyankas for the Pakistani masses. After all thats what iron brothers are for..
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Dr. Qureshi Oct 27, 2016 12:44pm
I think its time we work on our industry and see our own films to which we can relate to better and are more entertaining. India please stop creating soft porn in the name of art and sending it across the border to us. You can live happily with your culture and traditions and everything else. We are happy to do the same. By the way our actors are both good looking and act very well as well. I cannot say this about most of the actors in Bollywood sadly.
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Aamer Oct 28, 2016 12:24pm
Wow so much attention. But I never said Fardia Pinto was ugly because of her complexion. Sanam Saeed has dark skin but she is beautiful even off screen. Some said Pakistani actors cant speak English, the girls I mentioned they all are well educated, by the way how hard is English? Some said Bollywood and Hollywood seek talent not beauty and Pakistani actors are not talented, so why is Bollywood crazy over Pakistani actors? India even imported all Pakistan reject Veena Malik how talented was she? Boyal selected Farida in his film because the story line was based on the slums of India plus Farida was not the first choice. The original choice was a British Asian girl who refused at the last minute because she didn’t find the part big enough. By the way where is Farida Pinto now?
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robin Oct 28, 2016 10:28pm
@Aamer acting is required to be at hollywud
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