December 10, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 15, 1424

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LAHORE, Dec 9: Popular Indian film star Urmila Matondkar arrived here on Tuesday via Wagah border on a three-day visit to shoot a UNDP-sponsored feature film on peace in the region.

Her hosts, film crew, and Pakistani movie stars, including Resham and Shafqat Ali, greeted her when she crossed the border.

“I’m a torch-bearer of love and peace. That’s why I did the film like Pinjar (an Indian movie based on a novel by noted Punjabi writer Amrita Pritam on the division of the subcontinent in 1947),” she told reporters on her arrival.

“The movie (Pinjar) conveys the message of peace to the people of both the countries,” she said.

Ms Matondkar said she had never acted in a film that could escalate tension between the two neighbouring countries. “If offered to act in a Pakistani movie, I wouldn’t refuse.”

She said films, sports and cultural exchange were the best available resources for forging harmony, peace and love in this region. “I am glad that I have come here.”

Huma Baig, a director of the NGO producing the movie, told Dawn that their production house under the UNDP umbrella had undertaken this venture for promoting peace in the region. “It is a project involving artists and singers from both Pakistan and India.”

She said the Indian film star, together with Pakistani actress Resham, would take part in shooting of a song as part of the venture in Lahore on Wednesday (today). The song — Deewaney — has been sung by a Pakistani band Fusion, she said.