Meera's dilemma

By M. Saeed Awan - The News on Sunday, Jang Publications, Pakistan.

Meera has been working overtime on entertainment headlines. If it isn't foraccepting offers from Bollywood and revealing a bit too much, it's for facing an alleged fatwa back home followed by death threats and more. Recently Hindustan Times reported that the controversial Meera had been forced to leave Pakistan and planned to set base in Dubai, a considerably neutral homeground where she would be free to operate and work in both Pakistan and India at the same time. It was further reported that Meera was facing a backlash over her decision of doing steamy scenes in Mahesh Bhatt's Nazar.

Responding to this, Meera agrees that it has become difficult for her to live in Pakistan, which is unfortunate, she says, as she loves her country and all the fans that she has had to leave behind. However, she argues that there never was a controversy and that her working in Bollywood was blown out of proportion. "Pakistanis in general had no problems with my role in Nazar," she says. Meera adds that she grieves the fact that life was made very difficult for her family, especially after the senior artists' attitude at the National Film Awards ceremony where they not only protested her presence but also wanted her to leave.

According to Meera, she couldn't understand the hostility she was facing and under the circumstances had no other option but to leave the country. In Pakistan, she is forced to live under tight security. She keeps herself away from journalists and even close acquaintances. This has left her feeling bitter, aggressive and over–cautious. . Instep recently got the opportunity to catch her after her return from India. And let Meera have her say...

Instep: Is it true that you have decided to settle in Dubai permanently?

Meera: It's true that I have bought a flat there but it doesn't mean that I'm going to settle there permanently. Pakistan is my country. I love it and its people who have given me recognition and respect. You have to understand that I am now an international actress and I work in India and Dubai as well as Pakistan. It is difficult for me to operate my network peacefully in Pakistan. Dubai is a peaceful and impartial place. I feel comfortable there.

Instep: Why not move to Bombay as you are working there?

Meera: First, there are many problems in living in Bombay. Visa, accounts etc. Secondly, I have started my own production house, Meera Enterprises, which is registered in both Pakistan and Dubai. Soon, I shall start a big project in Pakistan.

Instep: Why was there a storm at your presence at the National Film Awards ceremony this year?

Meera: These people have no international exposure and that's why they are lagging behind. They believe in leg pulling. I have attended several award ceremonies but no one has ever made a fuss over my presence. If they don't like me, then why invite me and hurt my feelings. I was really shocked to see such behaviour.

Instep: You have criticised the Pakistan film industry on several occasions. Why?

Meera: An impractical and wrong approach to filmmaking has spoiled this institution. Our films are badly designed and shabbily managed. Old rhetoric does not work anymore and in this new age, there is need for repositioning. I just remarked that the Pakistan film industry has lagging behind due to some jahil producers who are displaced from art and culture. The jagga type films have become a cancer and major hindrance in the way of progress. Secondly, the producers and directors of our industry never took me seriously and never offered me roles according to my talent. If these people had paid attention to their work, we actors (Reema, Sana, Moammar Rana, Veena, etc) would never have looked across the border for opportunities. There was a time when our films were doing well. Now, due to non–seriousness, cinema houses are being leveled to ground and film superstars are being forced to work in TV serials.

Instep: Your tone was very humiliating though, and it seemed that you were riding high on the platform provided by Mahesh Bhatt.

Meera: There is no doubt that Mahesh Bhatt is my godfather and treats me like a daughter but, it was not my aim to humiliate anyone and especially my own film industry. I was not in the country. I don't know how the media projected me but I feel misinterpreted.

Instep: How do you justify your steamy scenes in Nazar?

Meera: I have done two films in India and several in Pakistan and I have performed variety of roles ranging from wife to an innocent girl, badmash, prostitute etc. An actress has to do justice to the role she is playing. I want to ask my critics that aren't our latest releases like Khatarnak, Sarkar, Daku Hasina full of sex? Why not react to them? My only fault is that I did it in India. When you accept a script, then by law you are bound to perform.

Instep: Does that mean you justify the sex scenes?

Meera: Only according to the demand of the scene. I am not a sex symbol but an actress whose sole aim is to pay attention to performance and variety of roles.

Instep: It is said that Mahesh Bhatt offered your younger sister Aqsa a role in his next venture?

Meera: Yes, he did but Aqsa declined the offer because of the bold subject of the film.

Instep: How would you merit the cooperation of the Indians? Do you feel a Pakistani can secure a place in Bollywood?

Meera: Frankly speaking, they are very professional. They do not believe in sifarish. They do not believe in relationships, only merit. They are a well–organized industry. They feel that by obliging someone or giving undue favouritism, they will damage the production. They will only make a film if they're sure of a positive return.

Instep: What kind of problems did you face?

Meera: The people in India do not speak Urdu very well. They have a Mumbain accent. They pay utmost attention to each department like dance and costumes. To overcome my problems, I joined an academy called Private Grooming Centre. The academy had marvelous courses to offer. I have been learning dancing, acting and filmmaking for six months. The school offers classes in English and Urdu, on improvisation of language and accent, it teaches one how to appear before an interview. Personal grooming like improving one's style of eating and dressing is also part of the syllabus. It is very helpful. I want to use all that I have learnt to help uplift my own film industry in the future.

Instep: What differences have you noticed between the Lollywood and Bollywood?

Meera: There are huge differences in the system, mentality and professionalism. Pakistan is a Muslim country while India has multiple races. Dancing is a form of worship there. Here, we call it a sin.

Instep: So have you stopped working in Pakistani films?

Meera: Not at all, but there are numerous problems with the Pakistani film industry and they need to be resolved. As soon as a film is announced, Reema, Zara, Nirma, Sana and Veena – all start looking to clinch the project. I am sorry to say that but our producers are not ready to pay a single penny to any heroine especially for Punjabi films. They expect funding from us. In such circumstances, it's natural for heroines to start looking around for other offers from TV or modeling. However, I am lucky that I have some good offers like Javed Sheikh's Khulay Asman Kay Neechay, Javed Fazil's Main Ek Din Laut Kay Aoun Ga and Shahzad Gul's Eman. ( Shahzad Gul denies Meera is a part of his film. The script of the film is not final).

Instep: What about TV serials?

Meera: Anar Kali and another drama serial, which will go on air very soon.

Instep: And what about marriage?

Meera: I am keenly looking for a suitable match.


	\| Back \| By M. Saeed Awan - The News on Sunday, Jang Publications, Pakistan. Meera has been working overtime on entertainment headlines. If it isn't foraccepting offers from Bollywood and revealing a bit too much, it's for facing an alleged fatwa back home followed by death threats and more. Recently Hindustan Times reported that the controversial Meera had been forced to leave Pakistan and planned to set base in Dubai, a considerably neutral homeground where she would be free to operate and work in both Pakistan and India at the same time. It was further reported that Meera was facing a backlash over her decision of doing steamy scenes in Mahesh Bhatt's Nazar. Responding to this, Meera agrees that it has become difficult for her to live in Pakistan, which is unfortunate, she says, as she loves her country and all the fans that she has had to leave behind. However, she argues that there never was a controversy and that her working in Bollywood was blown out of proportion. "Pakistanis in general had no problems with my role in Nazar," she says. Meera adds that she grieves the fact that life was made very difficult for her family, especially after the senior artists' attitude at the National Film Awards ceremony where they not only protested her presence but also wanted her to leave. According to Meera, she couldn't understand the hostility she was facing and under the circumstances had no other option but to leave the country. In Pakistan, she is forced to live under tight security. She keeps herself away from journalists and even close acquaintances. This has left her feeling bitter, aggressive and over–cautious. . Instep recently got the opportunity to catch her after her return from India. And let Meera have her say... Instep: Is it true that you have decided to settle in Dubai permanently? Meera: It's true that I have bought a flat there but it doesn't mean that I'm going to settle there permanently. Pakistan is my country. I love it and its people who have given me recognition and respect. You have to understand that I am now an international actress and I work in India and Dubai as well as Pakistan. It is difficult for me to operate my network peacefully in Pakistan. Dubai is a peaceful and impartial place. I feel comfortable there. Instep: Why not move to Bombay as you are working there? Meera: First, there are many problems in living in Bombay. Visa, accounts etc. Secondly, I have started my own production house, Meera Enterprises, which is registered in both Pakistan and Dubai. Soon, I shall start a big project in Pakistan. Instep: Why was there a storm at your presence at the National Film Awards ceremony this year? Meera: These people have no international exposure and that's why they are lagging behind. They believe in leg pulling. I have attended several award ceremonies but no one has ever made a fuss over my presence. If they don't like me, then why invite me and hurt my feelings. I was really shocked to see such behaviour. Instep: You have criticised the Pakistan film industry on several occasions. Why? Meera: An impractical and wrong approach to filmmaking has spoiled this institution. Our films are badly designed and shabbily managed. Old rhetoric does not work anymore and in this new age, there is need for repositioning. I just remarked that the Pakistan film industry has lagging behind due to some jahil producers who are displaced from art and culture. The jagga type films have become a cancer and major hindrance in the way of progress. Secondly, the producers and directors of our industry never took me seriously and never offered me roles according to my talent. If these people had paid attention to their work, we actors (Reema, Sana, Moammar Rana, Veena, etc) would never have looked across the border for opportunities. There was a time when our films were doing well. Now, due to non–seriousness, cinema houses are being leveled to ground and film superstars are being forced to work in TV serials. Instep: Your tone was very humiliating though, and it seemed that you were riding high on the platform provided by Mahesh Bhatt. Meera: There is no doubt that Mahesh Bhatt is my godfather and treats me like a daughter but, it was not my aim to humiliate anyone and especially my own film industry. I was not in the country. I don't know how the media projected me but I feel misinterpreted. Instep: How do you justify your steamy scenes in Nazar? Meera: I have done two films in India and several in Pakistan and I have performed variety of roles ranging from wife to an innocent girl, badmash, prostitute etc. An actress has to do justice to the role she is playing. I want to ask my critics that aren't our latest releases like Khatarnak, Sarkar, Daku Hasina full of sex? Why not react to them? My only fault is that I did it in India. When you accept a script, then by law you are bound to perform. Instep: Does that mean you justify the sex scenes? Meera: Only according to the demand of the scene. I am not a sex symbol but an actress whose sole aim is to pay attention to performance and variety of roles. Instep: It is said that Mahesh Bhatt offered your younger sister Aqsa a role in his next venture? Meera: Yes, he did but Aqsa declined the offer because of the bold subject of the film. Instep: How would you merit the cooperation of the Indians? Do you feel a Pakistani can secure a place in Bollywood? Meera: Frankly speaking, they are very professional. They do not believe in sifarish. They do not believe in relationships, only merit. They are a well–organized industry. They feel that by obliging someone or giving undue favouritism, they will damage the production. They will only make a film if they're sure of a positive return. Instep: What kind of problems did you face? Meera: The people in India do not speak Urdu very well. They have a Mumbain accent. They pay utmost attention to each department like dance and costumes. To overcome my problems, I joined an academy called Private Grooming Centre. The academy had marvelous courses to offer. I have been learning dancing, acting and filmmaking for six months. The school offers classes in English and Urdu, on improvisation of language and accent, it teaches one how to appear before an interview. Personal grooming like improving one's style of eating and dressing is also part of the syllabus. It is very helpful. I want to use all that I have learnt to help uplift my own film industry in the future. Instep: What differences have you noticed between the Lollywood and Bollywood? Meera: There are huge differences in the system, mentality and professionalism. Pakistan is a Muslim country while India has multiple races. Dancing is a form of worship there. Here, we call it a sin. Instep: So have you stopped working in Pakistani films? Meera: Not at all, but there are numerous problems with the Pakistani film industry and they need to be resolved. As soon as a film is announced, Reema, Zara, Nirma, Sana and Veena – all start looking to clinch the project. I am sorry to say that but our producers are not ready to pay a single penny to any heroine especially for Punjabi films. They expect funding from us. In such circumstances, it's natural for heroines to start looking around for other offers from TV or modeling. However, I am lucky that I have some good offers like Javed Sheikh's Khulay Asman Kay Neechay, Javed Fazil's Main Ek Din Laut Kay Aoun Ga and Shahzad Gul's Eman. ( Shahzad Gul denies Meera is a part of his film. The script of the film is not final). Instep: What about TV serials? Meera: Anar Kali and another drama serial, which will go on air very soon. Instep: And what about marriage? Meera: I am keenly looking for a suitable match.