Om Puri, wife say goodbye to Lahore… for now

E-Paper | May 10, 2026

LAHORE: Veteran Indian actor Om Puri and his wife Seema Kapoor left for India through Wagah border after a weeklong tour of the city on Tuesday.

Talking to the media, Puri disclosed that he had a “meaty offer” from Lollywood but preferred not to go into details.

“I shall consider the offer and share with the media at the right time,” he said.

He said the warmth and love extended by Lahorites was unforgettable. He held the hospitality of his hosts and others he met during his visit in high esteem. “I shall keep visiting Lahore for I have fallen in love with the place,” he said. He wished to visit Sialkot on his next trip to Pakistan, saying he had an “emotional affiliation” with the city as his father belonged to it.

More on visit: Om Puri meets Ch Shujaat | Om Puri calls for easing visa policy | Om Puri bids adieu to anti-Pakistan films

The veteran actor was all praise for traditional Lahori food, especially fish that he had at a local restaurant. He also said visa policy between the two countries should be relaxed. Both governments should take steps to provide comfort to visitors from the other country. He said cultural activities and artistes could play a pivotal role in enhancing people-to-people contact. He said both India and Pakistan should follow the example of Europe in terms of visas.

Seema Kapoor also praised the hospitality of Lahorites, saying the couple “traded love in Lahore and are going back with bags full of love and affection”.

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Arshad Khan

Mar 19, 2014 01:14pm

For all the shortcomings of Pakistanis, one cannot deny the fact that they live life to the full. The country may be embroiled in corruption, mismanagement ,poverty, political instability, military interventions, the Pakistanis live as if there is no tomorrow. Hospitality in Pakistan thrives best amongst the poorest, and for that reason while there is always hope for the coming days, there is also absence of desperation for betterment .

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Dr Pankaj Handa

Mar 19, 2014 02:47pm

India and Pakistan are two nations with ONE soul. We have so much in common in practically all aspects of life. Overseas, we look alike and often get along very well. I am an Indian Hindu but can proudly say that one of my closest friend in life happens to be a Pakistani Muslim, Syed Najib Shah. But for the selfish agenda of politicians of the two countries, we could have always lived as two friendly neighbors. Exchange visits by eminent artists of the stature of Om Puri are just one effort in the right direction. Lets hope and pray and support every such action , howsoever little, that would see the two nations prosper together.

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Samad Chaudhry

Mar 19, 2014 04:21pm

D ear Sir I went to India in October 2005 after 60 years to see our old home in Miani Afghana near Jalandhar (the village of Habib Jalib) I crossed the border at Wagah to Attari the Amritsar, Miani and Dasuya, Chandigarh, Patiala (to meet school days friend) then Chandigarh Shimla (We used to live there 6 month Delhi and 6 months Shimla -Britis India capital. People went out of the way to welcome me. Sikhs living in our house in Miani were great. The press came in Dasuya and Shimla printing my visit. I was but an ordinary individual. In New Delhi I went t o my old school and even gave a speech to high class students. I also visited the great Taj Mahal and few other places.. Everywhere I went I found Love and our Indo-Pakistan hospitality. I am glad Om Puri enjoyed Pakistan. Samad

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Dr. Rahman

Mar 19, 2014 05:37pm

@Dr Pankaj Handa: Totally agree Dr: Pankaj. Common masses in both countries have enormous respect and love for each other. If we could only do without these so called political leaders.

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Azmay Khan

Mar 19, 2014 06:12pm

@Dr Pankaj Handa: Welcome Dr. Pankaj.Why cannot we live like two good neighbors.We can easily rather like two brothers if we have a wish

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K G Surendran

Mar 19, 2014 06:35pm

Let people to people exchange blossom, let us live like civilized and friendly neighbors. Cultural activities should be promoted with gusto. Trade and commerce should be encouraged so that we have more people to people contact.

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Tamilselvan

Mar 19, 2014 06:47pm

@Azmay Khan:Yes, we should like brothers just as it's in USA and Canada or in several European countries but unfortunately there are elements in both countries (and more so in Pakistan) who feel that they need to blame the neighbor for their troubles. Both countries did that on the British for some years after independence but now India has outgrown it. But Pakistan since the late 70's has gone backward by say about 200 years in their rational thinking more so with the fundamentalists. No one is willing to accept the LOC as the border between the two countries. How many so called Kashmiris are willing to resettle in Pakistan if they don't like India and vice versa too. It's has been more than 65 years and a generation has passed by and still the hatred is kept alive more in Pakistan. Just compare the progress made in India and Pakistan in the last 25 years

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Mar 19, 2014 07:34pm

You are welcome any time Mr Om Puri and wife. Glad to hear that your stay was awesome.

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Kashif Memon

Mar 19, 2014 07:35pm

Great for displaying the realities. Om Puri you will always be welcome by us anytime to our country.

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Mar 19, 2014 07:44pm

Why a political or business / cinema person visits Pakistan has very nice thing to say about us Pakistanis when in Pakistan.. The same people when on Indian soil like Mr. Puri plays in a anti-Pakistan movie ( several movies ) as a crusader and bad mouths Pakistanis. Some of the implications in the movies suggests that we are a nation of war mongers and jerks. Yes, we are going through bad times but we are a nation of good and kind people.

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Rakesh Razdan

Mar 19, 2014 09:53pm

No doubt Pakistanis particularly Lahoris are very lovable and hospitable people. I still remember the love Lahories game to me and other Indians when we visited in 2004 during cricket tour there. So much so I was suffering from withdrawal symptoms when I had to return back to India. I wish early and easy travel policy for tourist who wish to explore each other country.

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saeeds

Mar 20, 2014 01:04am

@Dr Pankaj Handa: You are giving some individual example in truth majority of these countries don't like each other. Main reason religion different religion that is why India divided into nation.

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ahmed

Mar 20, 2014 02:27am

@Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali: What you say is unfortunately true. In the movie "East is East", Om Puri acts as a Pakistani settled in UK. The whole movie is geared to cast the Pakistani man as a boorish religious bigot and a fool who bullies his english wife and children and who has no redeeming features. I cant think of a worse portrayal of any character. Perhaps Om Puri has since lost his desire to portray Pakistanis negatively given that Pakistanis have done such a good job of doing so themselves after 9/11 (by harboring terrorists and letting them get away with 60,000 murders over the years in Pakistan simply because they claim to be doing so to promote Islam). Perhaps Mr. Puri has merely mellowed this need to demonize Pakistanis in old age. Whatever the reason, the fact remains that this man has done nothing to deserve the warm welcome to Pakistan he received.

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joe smith

Mar 20, 2014 03:37am

More of this exchange needs to happen. Culturally there is more closeness to India than say Saudi Arabia.

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Asmat Ashai

Mar 20, 2014 04:29am

Visa restrictions are extremely painful especially for people who are married to Pakistanis or vice versa. I married my cousin, who was born in Srinagar just like me. His father was studying in Lahore at the time of partition so he left Kashmir to join his father in Pakistan when he was four years old. We have been married for 40 years and even now his visa for India is always uncertain because he held a Pakistani passport at one time in his life! This is a story of thousands of people in India and Pakistan. No one seems to care.

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Last Word

Mar 20, 2014 10:58am

@saeeds: India and Pakistan were divided on the criteria of religion but it did not bring peace and harmony in Pakistan. However in India, children irrespective of belonging to any community whether majority or minority are taught in their curriculum that all religions are equal and should necessarily be given mutual respect. May be this ideology is keeping the Indians belonging to many religions and sects united despite some hiccups, which happens in each family. Had this criteria which Jinnah highlighted in his speech followed in Pakistan, peace would have prevailed not only in Pakistan but between the two countries as well.

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Dr Pankaj Handa

Mar 20, 2014 12:36pm

@saeeds: My dear friend, Saeeds, While I respect your opinion , I definitely disagree with you. The very basis of dividing a country on the basis of religion can never be right. British divided India into two countries to play their infamous policy of 'Divide and Rule'. Even after division India was left with larger number of Muslims than Pakistan. Nevertheless, an overwhelmingly Muslim Pakistan could not stay as one country and saw the emergence of Bangladesh. This strengthens the fact that you cant divide people merely on the basis of religion. Religion is Man made. God created all of us as one. Let Humanity Prevail Over All Barriers.

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Aziz

Mar 20, 2014 12:46pm

If we cannot live together as good and friendly neighbours then at least we can try to co-exist as civilised strangers.

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I am khan

Mar 21, 2014 12:43am

India and Pakistan are off springs of the same mother..India is to pakistan as two children are to one mother.so I do not stand for the fact that we should fight..

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Sufi Mateen

Mar 21, 2014 03:27am

Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too Imagine all the people Living life in peace You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you will join us And the world will be as one Tribute to John Lennon - Imagine

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Ak18

Mar 21, 2014 03:36am

@Tamilselvan: the so 'called' kashmiri's, as you call them, are actually under occupation since 1948 and have never been asked their opinion... they were promised, by nehru, and the UNSC... but it appears these promises were not made to be kept... perhaps asking those 'so called' Kasmiris, as you call them, would put an end to the hatred that spoils all our hopes and desires to move on peacefully like lingering bad smell! the crux of the issue is, they have never had their say... i have nothing against india, but this issue should be dealt with openly and fairly, for Kashmiri's, Pakistani's and Indians... once it is all out in the open... no one can complain and we can all get on with our lives... as for om puri... what i have seen of him, he is a top actor!

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n s parameswaran

Mar 21, 2014 03:22pm

@Dr Pankaj Handa: we hear this kind of statements and sentiments only from Hindus. i have yet to come across a statement of this kind or sentiments as expressed here from a Muslim. Similarly it is Hindus who to mosques/sufi shrines etc - no Muslim will visit a Hindu Temple. Hindu leaders in India attend "Iftar" parties and accept and wear skull caps. Show me a Muslim leader visiting Hindus and accepting a tika on his forehead. To my knowledge it is a one-way street - from Hindus only.

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n s parameswaran

Mar 21, 2014 03:27pm

@saeeds: You are not correct. It is the Muslims who said that they are a separate nation and cannot co-exist with Hindus (your poet Iqbal to jinnah said this). Hindus never said this and did not want partition. they just fought for freeing India from British. So the sense of separateness was sown by the Muslims and this led to the feeling of hatred. The dice was thrown by the Muslims. We are reaping the crop of that sowing.

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zalim_khan

Mar 22, 2014 07:04pm

Same Soil.....Same DNA... Same Genes but "different" enviroments created by politicians and religious zealots on both sides! I have friends from India, and its true whilst we ( Pakistani and Indians) live outside of the sub continent we are the "best of friends" yet the public in Pakistan and India are "fed hatred via the Politicians and media" Its obvious thats what keeps them going!

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Rajeev

Mar 22, 2014 07:09pm

@Dr. Rahman: Political Leaders means Statesmen. It is Politicians.

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