Nothing political about Gulzar's return from Lahore: Statement

Feb 13, 2013 IANS

Mumbai, Feb 13 (IANS) Veteran writer-lyricist Gulzar and filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj are on their back after a brief visit to Pakistan, but there is "nothing political" about their return, said an official statement from the latter's office.

Media reports indicated that the Indian High Commission advised the 83-year-old writer to return to India.

Gulzar and Bhardwaj had gone to Pakistan Monday to record a qawwali for upcoming Bollywood film "Dedh Ishqiya" and the lyricist was also expected to attend the Karachi Literature Festival -- but their stay was cut short.

"They went there to record a song for 'Dedh Ishqiya'. Gulzar saab visited the grave of his mentor, an eminent poet Ahmed Nadeem Qasimi. After that he visited his birthplace Dina, in Jhelum district, after 70 years. He was emotionally overwhelmed and stressed," said a statement from Bhardwaj's office.

"He (Gulzar) felt uncomfortable after reaching his hotel in Lahore. So, Vishal cancelled his recording and decided to escort him back to India and discontinued his journey further. There is nothing political about it. We plan to visit Pakistan again for recording as soon as Gulzar saab feels better," the statement further said.

Gulzar and Bhardwaj, coming via Amritsar, were expected to reach here after some time, said a source.

"Dedh Ishqiya", a sequel to the 2010 critically acclaimed film "Ishqiya", features Arshad Warsi and Naseeruddin Shah along with Bollywood's dancing diva Madhuri Dixit in key roles.

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Dedh Ishqiya