KARACHI, April 28: A reception was hosted on Friday evening by culture and tourism department and the Pakistan Film and TV Journalists’ Association in honour of the visiting Indian celebrities Sanjay Khan, Akber Khan, Fardeen Khan, Zulfiqar Shah, Manisha Koirala, Shyan Shroff and others.

The evening began with a multimedia presentation of the film Taj Mahal.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Khan thanked President Musharraf and Indian premier Manmohan Singh for strengthening good relations between the two countries. He said, “Any Pakistani film producer can now show his film in India and take the revenue earned home with him.” He also said that Indian investor Shyan Shroff would buy Pakistani films and hold Pakistani film festival in India.

Zulfiqar Shah, the male lead of Taj Mahal, spoke next and said that this was his third trip to Pakistan. He thanked the government of Pakistan for opening the doors to Bollywood films in Pakistan and said that he was willing to take up Pakistani projects.

Manisha Koirala said that this was her second trip in a short span of time and she was extremely humbled by the love she had received. She urged people to go and see Taj Mahal in cinemas.

Fardeen Khan thanked everyone for the hospitality and the warmth extended to them. He said that his uncle, Akber Khan, had written a new chapter in Pakistan-India relations and now it was up to the governments to take it forward.

Director Akber Khan said that their hearts were full of the love expressed to them and they would take it with them all the way back to India and tell his countrymen to go to Pakistan and witness it. He said that Sonya Jehan, the female lead, could not make it to Karachi due to illness. He also urged people to avoid pirated CDs and see it in cinemas.

Veteran film actor Mustafa Qureshi congratulated Akber Khan on showing Taj Mahal in Pakistan and said that he saw it as a continuation of the enduring power of love.

Sindh Culture and Tourism Minister Qamar Mansoor praised President Musharraf for bringing the two countries closer. He said Taj Mahal would serve as a milestone in the relations between the two countries.

Sindh Chief Minister Arbab Rahim said he was pleased to host Indian delegates in Karachi and said they acted as ambassadors of their country. He said that the people of both countries were ahead of their respective governments in efforts of reconciliation.