Saba Qamar to Promote Hindi Medium in India; Irrfan Khan Responds

The actor is all set to break the unofficial embargo on Pakistani artistes in Mumbai.

Saba Qamar is all set for her Bollywood debut. (Photo courtesy: Facebook/ SabaQamar)

Pakistan’s perky and prized lady Saba Qamar is all set to break the unofficial embargo on Pakistani artistes in Mumbai. She would draw to a close the embargo on Pakistani artistes that started in October 2016 when Fawad Khan was stopped from coming to India to promote Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil.

Three months later the situation had not improved when Rahul Dholakia’s Raees released and its Pakistani leading lady Mahira Khan was not allowed into India.

Now though relations between the two countries haven’t really improved, Saba Qamar is all set to renew suspended cultural exchange between the two countries.

Saba is keen to come to India, and she isn’t nervous or anxious about how she would be received in India. It all depends on whether she’s granted a visa or not.

A source

A source from the Government says, “There was never any official ban on the entry of Pakistani artistes in the country. Only niche self-appointed vigilante groups were vocal about the so-called ban. There was never any official ban.”

Irrfan Khan with Saba Qamar in a still from Hindi Medium.

When we started doing the film, there was no restriction on artistes in Bollywood. It all began after we started. Even now I am not sure if the government has taken a stand on whether Pakistani artistes should be allowed to work in our industry. If something is legally permissible, should vigilante organisations stop them?

Irrfan Khan

Up next is the young Pakistani actress Sajal Ali, who plays Sridevi's daughter in Mom. If Saba's visit to India goes smoothly, Mom producer Boney Kapoor intends to bring Sajal into Hindustan.