Nikhil Advani wants Pakistani films to release in India

Director Nikhil Advani was recently part of a unique initiative held at the Wagah Border where 12 filmmakers came together to make 12 different movies, as an effort to ease the tensions between India and Pakistan. Among the filmmakers that volunteered for the initiative were Tigmanshu Dhulia, Ketan Mehta, Bejoy Nambiar, Tanuja Chandra and Aparna Sen. The other six filmmakers were from Pakistan.

Nikhil Advani’s film D-Day was banned in Pakistan for its content. And they had even banned the filmmaker from entering the country. But Nikhil seems to hold no grudges. In fact he has only good things to say about Pakistan. He is of the opinion that the way some Indian films release in Pakistan, their films too should have a release in India on a Friday.

Speaking from Amritsar, Nikhil said, “At the end of the day, we think alike — forget everything else, how we behave, how we feel, what are the political affiliations, whom we vote for or don’t vote for. The important thing is that we think alike. We still get moved by Mr Bachchan’s dialogues. We all get excited when Shah Rukh spreads his arms. Cinema is one medium that makes us feel like one. I feel sad that to watch a Pakistani film we have to go to London. We should be able to go to our nearest cinema hall to watch a Pakistani movie.”