Cinema chill thaws between India, Pakistan

Cinema chill thaws between India, Pakistan

Pakistan lifted the ban on exhibition of Indian movies early this month and Firoz Nadiadwala's Welcome was the first Bollywood movie to be "officially" released in Pakistan. And now Khuda Ke Liye, in which actor Naseeruddin Shah plays a major role, is also going to be "officially" released in India on March 28 for the first time.

Bollywood movies may have been released in cinemas in Pakistan on and off, but the government of Pakistan officially lifted the ban on exhibition of Indian movies early this month.

Firoz Nadiadwala's Welcome was the first Bollywood movie to be "officially" released in Pakistan Feb 8 after "the Senate standing committee on culture recommended to the government to allow exhibition of Indian movies under a proper censorship policy".

The movie is currently running to packed houses in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Multan. It is reported to have netted more than Rs 70 million from the local box-office.