Pakistani, Indian artists should be bridge-builders for peace – Mehwish Hayat

With her dazzling star power, Pakistani actress Mehwish Hayat has waded into Pakistan-India standoff over Kashmir with the message that artists should build bridges and that Bollywood should stop portraying Pakistanis as stereotypes.

The heartthrob of the film industry spoke at an awards ceremony in Oslo and then relayed her views in an interview with BBC in London.

“This came around at a time when there is an ongoing crisis with Kashmir —I think the timing could not have been better,” she said, when asked about her acceptance speech in Oslo, where she asked Bollywood to stop portraying Pakistanis as terrorists.

“Right now it has been amplified. The voice is much greater,” she said, advocating the need for dialogue  on the role of films and artists.

Her remarks follow a controversial tweet by Indian artist Priyanaka Chopra, a UNICEF ambassador. Priayanka’s “Jai Hind” tweet has been widely criticized in Pakistan and celebrated in parts of India as the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors face soaring tensions.

The latest flare-up in tensions came in the wake of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to strip Kashmir – a disputed territory – of its autonomous status. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has condemned the decision and clampdown on Kashmir as a “fascist” move.

“What I was saying is how we need to be working as artists. We carry tremendous responsibility on our shoulders. We should be the people building bridges and be as torchbearers of peace,” Mehwish told BBC.

She said portraying Muslims as terrorists fuels Islamophobia.

 

 

Mehwish, who has starred in successful productions including Jawani Phir Nai Ani, Actor In Law, Punjab Nai Jaung and Chhalawa, said in contrast with Indian film industry, Pakistanis have been open-minded.

“My country is welcoming that they even show their films . On the other hand what they do is they show as villains in their films.”

 

“I am glad that the debate has begun,” she said of the feedback to her criticism of Bollywood Indian film industry.

“We should work together for peace and building bridges,” she said of Pakistani and Indian artists.

On Kashmir, she hoped Pakistan and India would be able to talk about the longstanding UN-recognized dispute

“I hope they do (talk on Kashmir issue ) …. Kashmiri people should be able to decide their fate— It should be in the benefit of what they  Kashmiris want.”